This Day in History: May 27th

May 27th, 1937: Golden Gate Bridge Opens

The Golden Gate Bridge, an iconic landmark and engineering marvel, officially opened to the public on May 27th, 1937, after a four-year construction period. The bridge, boasting a main span of 4,200 feet and two massive towers each standing at 746 feet tall, quickly became a symbol of San Francisco and California.

May 27th, 1941: Bismarck Sinks HMS Hood

During World War II, the German battleship Bismarck engaged in a fateful encounter with the British battlecruiser HMS Hood on May 27th, 1941. The Bismarck, armed with powerful 15-inch guns, fired a devastating salvo that struck the Hood's magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion and sinking the ship in a matter of minutes.

May 27th, 1964: Nelson Mandela Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

In the tumultuous apartheid era in South Africa, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment on May 27th, 1964, for his opposition to the oppressive regime. Despite facing decades of imprisonment, Mandela remained an unwavering symbol of resistance and hope, inspiring the fight against racial injustice.

Additional Notable Events on May 27th:

• 1798: The Irish Rebellion of 1798 begins.
• 1895: Oscar Wilde is sentenced to two years in prison for gross indecency.
• 1954: The Supreme Court rules in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
• 1999: Microsoft releases Windows 98.