Today In History: Bridging The BIG Gap

On this day in history, November 12th, 1936, the Oakland Bay Bridge officially opened, connecting San Francisco and Oakland as one of the engineering marvels of its time. In 1954, Ellis Island closed its doors after processing more than 20 million immigrants since opening in 1892, marking the end of an era in U.S. immigration history. In 1966, The Monkees’ debut album began a 13-week run at number one on the U.S. charts, selling over three million copies in just three months. In 1971, President Richard Nixon announced the withdrawal of 45,000 American troops from Vietnam. In 1984, Madonna released her breakthrough album Like a Virgin, propelling her to pop superstardom. In 2013, One World Trade Center was officially named the tallest building in the United States, surpassing Chicago’s Willis Tower. In 2019, Disney+ made its highly anticipated streaming debut, reshaping the entertainment landscape. And on this day in 2021, Taylor Swift released Red (Taylor’s Version), along with her short film All Too Well, reclaiming her music and rewriting pop history.