What happened on this day in history: The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York, Aaron Hernandez murders Odin Lloyd, and more historical events that happened on June 17th.
1631: Mumtaz Mahal Dies
Public DomainA depiction of Mumtaz Mahal, whose tomb became the iconic Taj Mahal.
Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the Mughal Indian emperor Shah Jahān, dies during childbirth at the age of 38. Her mourning husband ordered the construction of an elaborate tomb, the Taj Mahal. Today, the elegant white-domed landmark is visited by more than seven million people a year.
1885: The Statue Of Liberty Arrives In New York
The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York. The iconic 450,000-pound statue, a gift from France, arrived as 350 pieces packed into 200 containers. It was reassembled on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor and officially dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.
1972: Five Burglars Are Arrested At The Watergate Complex
Five men are arrested at the Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C. for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The break-in proved to be just the tip of the iceberg — authorities soon found links to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign and his White House. After a long, public investigation, Nixon resigned from office on August 8, 1974.
1994: O.J. Simpson Leads Police On A Televised Car Chase
YouTubeO.J. Simpson’s infamous white Ford Bronco during the chase.
A few days after the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, former football player O.J. Simpson leads police on a 35-mile-per-hour car chase in Los Angeles. With helicopters buzzing overhead, and cameras transmitting to TVs across the country, Simpson led a fleet of police cars along Interstate 405 while in a white Ford Bronco. The chase ended after about an hour when Simpson returned home and police arrested him.
2013: Aaron Hernandez Murders Odin Lloyd
Odin Lloyd is shot and killed in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. Nine days later, police arrested NFL star Aaron Hernandez and charged him with Lloyd’s murder. Hernandez was found guilty in April 2015 and died by suicide in prison two years later.
