What Happened On November 21st?

The Birth of the Tar Heel State (1789)

North Carolina, on November 21st, 1989, officially joined the union, becoming the twelfth state to ratify the United States Constitution. The journey to statehood was a complex and deliberative process, reflecting the state’s unique historical, political, and economic circumstances.

The admission of North Carolina into the early fledgling United States contributed to the diversity and growth of the Union. The journey to statehood was shaped by the challenges of the Revolutionary War, the deliberations over the Constitution, and the resilience of a people determined to be part of a more perfect union.

The Loss of the Steamer ‘Phoenix’ on Lake Michigan (1847)

Lake Michigan became the haunting backdrop for a maritime tragedy that would be etched into the history of the Great Lakes on November 21st, 1847. The steamer “Phoenix,” once a vessel of promise and innovation, succumbed to the unforgiving waters, leaving a lesson about the unpredictable inland sea conditions.

The sinking of the “Phoenix” resulted in a devastating loss of life. Many passengers and crew members (200) perished in the icy waters, a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in the Great Lakes, especially during the unpredictable late-fall and early-winter weather. The tragedy prompted a reevaluation of safety measures, navigational protocols, and the capabilities of vessels operating on the inland seas.

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Connected Horizons (1964)

On November 21, 1964, the city of New York celebrated a monumental engineering achievement and a symbol of progress as the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened to the public. Spanning the entrance to New York Harbor and connecting the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge became an iconic landmark, fostering greater connectivity and reshaping the urban landscape.

The opening of this majestic bridge helped to transform modern transportation, commerce, and the very fabric of the city. The bridge’s elegant design, engineering excellence, and impact on transportation have solidified its place as a beloved and iconic structure, connecting boroughs and communities while embodying the ever-forward momentum of urban development.