A pair of NASA astronauts, who were stranded in space for more
than nine months, returned to Earth on Tuesday, landing in the
Gulf of America off Tallahassee, Florida, bringing an end to an unforeseen odyssey.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells and William
G. Fargo join with several other investors to launch their
namesake business, today one of the world’s largest banks.
The discovery of gold in California in 1849 prompted a huge
spike in the demand for cross-country shipping. Wells and
Fargo decided to take advantage of these great opportunities.
After later mergers, the Wells Fargo Bank American
Trust Company—shortened to the Wells Fargo Bank
in 1962, became, and has remained, one of the biggest
banking institutions in the United States. 
The worst tornado in U.S. history passed through eastern
Missouri, southern Illinois, and southern Indiana, killing
695 people, injuring some 13,000 people, and causing $17
million in property damage.
Known as the “Tri-State Tornado,” the deadly twister began
its northeast track in Ellington, Missouri, but wreaked its
worst damage in southern Illinois. More than 500 of the total
695 people who perished were killed there, including 234 in
Murphysboro and 127 in West Frankfort.
On March 17, 1776, British forces were forced to evacuate
Boston following General George Washington’s successful
placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights,
which overlooked the city from the south.
On March 17, 1992, white South Africans vote overwhelmingly
in a referendum to end minority rule, by a margin of 68.7
percent to 31.2 percent. Thus ended the turbulent period
called apartheid, a racial segregation policy that separated
the minority white population by designating areas and
activities prohibited to Black people.
“Today we have closed the book on apartheid,” President F.W.
de Klerk said on the day after the vote.
Two years after the vote to end apartheid, in 1994, South Africa
held its first free and nonracial election, and Nelson Mandela
(above) an activist who had spent 27 years in prison for his
opposition to apartheid—became the first Black president of
the county.
Frederik de Klerk (left) with Nelson Mandela, 1992.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013)
