Boston, Massachusetts

1773Boston Tea Party: On December 16, colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxation without representation. The act of defiance led directly to the American Revolution.

1775American Revolution Begins: The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19 began the American Revolution. Two months later, the Battle of Bunker Hill proved colonial forces could stand against the British Army, though at heavy cost.

2013Boston Marathon Bombing: Two pressure cooker bombs detonated near the marathon finish line, killing 3 and injuring 264. The subsequent manhunt shut down the city. Boston's resilient response — 'Boston Strong' — became a national symbol.

1919Great Molasses Flood: A 50-foot storage tank burst, sending 2.3 million gallons of molasses through Boston's North End in a wave moving at 35 mph. The bizarre disaster killed 21 people and injured 150.

1636Harvard College Founded: Harvard was established in Cambridge as America's first college. It became the nation's most prestigious university and anchored Greater Boston's identity as a center of education and research.

1770Boston Massacre: British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five men including Crispus Attucks. The incident was used as propaganda to fuel revolutionary sentiment throughout the colonies.

1974Busing Crisis: Court-ordered school desegregation through busing triggered violent protests in South Boston and Charlestown, exposing deep racial divisions in a city that prided itself on its liberal values.

1872Great Boston Fire: A massive fire destroyed 65 acres of downtown Boston, including 776 buildings. It was the most destructive fire in Boston's history and reshaped the city's commercial district.

1897First Subway in America: The Tremont Street subway opened as the first underground rapid transit system in the United States, solving Boston's catastrophic traffic congestion.

2004Red Sox Break the Curse: The Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1918, ending the 86-year 'Curse of the Bambino.' The victory was one of the most celebrated moments in American sports history.