Step back in time with This Week in History, where we highlight the moments that shaped our world — from triumphs and tragedies to discoveries and daring feats. Each week offers a glimpse into the people, events, and ideas that continue to influence our lives today. Here’s what happened this week in history, October 28 through November 3.
October 28
• 1886: The Statue of Liberty is dedicated in New York Harbor.
• 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis eases as the Soviet Union agrees to withdraw missiles from Cuba.
October 29
• 1929: Black Tuesday rocks Wall Street as stock prices collapse.
• 1998: John Glenn returns to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-95.
October 30
• 1938: Orson Welles airs “The War of the Worlds,” startling radio listeners.
• 1974: Muhammad Ali defeats George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire.
October 31
• 1517: Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, sparking the Reformation.
• 1864: Nevada is admitted as the 36th U.S. state.
November 1
• 1800: President John Adams becomes the first occupant of the White House.
• 1952: The United States conducts the first full-scale hydrogen bomb test, “Ivy Mike,” at Enewetak Atoll.
November 2
• 1947: Howard Hughes pilots the “Spruce Goose” on its only flight.
• 2000: Expedition 1 arrives at the International Space Station, beginning continuous human presence in orbit.
November 3
• 1903: Panama declares independence from Colombia.
• 1957: Sputnik 2 launches with Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth.
