(LOOTPRESS) – November 24 carries a mix of battlefield victories, political milestones, scientific breakthroughs, and moments that shaped American society. From major Civil War offensives to one of the most dramatic nationally televised events of the 20th century, this date offers a rich window into the country’s past.
Below are ten significant events that took place on this day in U.S. history.
1. 1863 — Union Forces Capture Lookout Mountain
On November 24, Union forces under General Joseph Hooker launched a bold assault on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Fought partly in thick fog, the “Battle Above the Clouds” became one of the most memorable engagements of the Civil War.
The victory was strategically decisive. It opened the way for the Union to lift the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, setting the stage for Sherman’s 1864 march through Georgia.
2. 1869 — American Woman’s Suffrage Association Founded
Activists including Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, and Julia Ward Howe founded the AWSA on this date in Cleveland, Ohio.
The group advocated for women’s voting rights through state-level campaigns—one of two major organizations that would ultimately merge to form the foundation of the 19th Amendment movement.
3. 1874 — Patent Issued for Improved Barbed Wire
Joseph Glidden of Illinois received a patent for his revolutionary barbed wire design.
His invention transformed farming and ranching across the Great Plains, allowing landowners to fence large properties affordably.
Barbed wire reshaped the American West, ending the open range and accelerating settlement.
4. 1963 — Jack Ruby Kills Lee Harvey Oswald on Live Television
In one of the most shocking moments ever broadcast, nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald—the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy—while Oswald was being transferred from Dallas police headquarters.
Millions witnessed the event in real time.
It sparked years of debate, conspiracy theories, and official inquiries into the assassination and its aftermath.
5. 1859 — Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of SpeciesPublished
Although a global event rather than strictly American, the book’s publication profoundly affected scientific, academic, and cultural debates in the United States.
Schools, universities, churches, and policymakers would wrestle with its ideas for generations to come.
6. 1947 — Hollywood Blacklist Announced
Citing communist influence in the film industry, major studio executives agreed on November 24 to blacklist the “Hollywood Ten,” a group of writers and directors who refused to testify before Congress.
The blacklist shaped American media, politics, and cultural expression through the 1950s.
7. 1971 — D.B. Cooper Skyjacking
A man known as “D.B. Cooper” hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305, extorted $200,000, and parachuted into the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.
He was never found.
The case remains the only unsolved airline hijacking in U.S. history and has become an enduring part of American legend.
8. 1969 — Apollo 12 Returns to Earth
The second successful moon mission splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on November 24.
Astronauts Charles “Pete” Conrad, Richard Gordon, and Alan Bean completed precision landings and scientific experiments, reinforcing U.S. leadership in the space race.
9. 1906 — The Canton Bulldogs Football Team Is Organized
Early records note this date as the formation of the Canton Bulldogs, a powerhouse of early professional football.
The Bulldogs later became part of the NFL’s founding history, helping shape the sport’s structure and competitive standards.
10. 1998 — America Online Announces Plans to Buy Netscape
AOL’s acquisition of Netscape was announced on this day, marking a major moment in the early Internet era.
The deal highlighted the rapidly evolving technological landscape of the late 1990s and foreshadowed the rise of the modern digital ecosystem.
