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March 24 in History: First Long-Distance Phone Call, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and “The Office” Debuts

Scott Winters March 24, 2026 0 Comments

Discover what happened on March 24 in history, along with notable celebrity birthdays and fun Days of the Year to celebrate.

What Happened on March 24 in History?

Important events on this day include the first telephone call between New York and Chicago, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the debut of the American version of “The Office.”

MARCH 24 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1868 – Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was formed.

1880 – The first “hail insurance company” was incorporated in Connecticut. It was known as Tobacco Growers’ Mutual Insurance Company.

1882 – In Berlin, German scientist Robert Koch announced the discovery of the tuberculosis germ (bacillus).

1883 – The first telephone call between New York, NY and Chicago, IL took place.

1900 – Mayor Van Wyck of New York, NY broke the ground for the New York subway tunnel that would link Manhattan and Brooklyn.

1900 – In New Jersey, the Carnegie Steel Corporation was formed.

1904 – The cities of Muskegon and Grand Rapids, MI were hit by tornadoes. Five homes lost their roofs or were torn apart on the lakefront at Harrison Street. In Grand Rapids, ten people were injured when the tornado damaged several barns and a church.

1920 – The first U.S. Coast Guard air station was established at Morehead City, NC.

1936 – The Detroit Red Wings played an NHL Stanley Cup playoff game against the Montreal Maroons. The game combined 60 minutes of regulation play along with 116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime. The game ended at 2:30 am, with Detroit winning 1-0. The Red Wings went on to win the series and their first Stanley Cup.

1947 – Congress proposed the limitation of the Presidency to two terms.

1948 – The river gauges on the Grand River at Comstock Park, MI read 17.75 feet. That was the highest reading ever at Comstock Park. Flood stage is 12 ft.

1955 – The first oil drill seagoing rig was put into service.

1958 – Elvis Presley was sworn in as a private in the U.S. Army.

1960 – A U.S. appeals court ruled that the novel “Lady Chatterly’s Lover” was not obscene and could be sent through the mail.

1965 – Images from the Ranger 9 lunar probe were broadcast live on network television.

1975 – Muhammad Ali beat Chuck Wepner in 15 rounds to retain his world heavyweight crown.

1980 – The late night news television program “Nightline”, with Ted Koppel, premiered on ABC.

1988 – Former national security aides Oliver L. North and John M. Poindexter and businessmen Richard V. Secord and Albert Hakim pleaded innocent to Iran-Contra charges.

1989 – The Exxon Valdez spilled 240,000 barrels (11 million gallons) of crude oil in Alaska’s Prince William Sound after it ran aground and ruptured. The captain had been drinking at the time of the accident.

1992 – A Chicago judge ruled in the Milli-Vanilli class-action suit that $3.00 cash rebates would be given to anyone that could prove that they bought the group’s music before November 27, 1990 (the date the lip-synching scandal broke).

1995 – The House of Representatives passed a welfare reform package that made the most changes in social programs since the New Deal.

1998 – In Jonesboro, AR, two young boys opened fire at students from woods near a school. Four students and a teacher were killed and 10 others were injured. The two boys were 11 and 13 years old cousins.

1998 – A former FBI agent said papers found in James Earl Ray’s car supported a conspiracy theory in the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

1998 – Amway Corp. announced that it had agreed to pay $9 million to settle a lawsuit over the company’s use of songs by top artists in videotaped sales pitches.

2001 – Apple Computer Inc’s operating system MAC OS X went on sale.

2005 – Sandra Bullock received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2005 – The American version of the TV show “The Office” premiered on NBC.

2006 – The Disney Channel premieres a new TV series, “Hannah Montana”, starring country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and his 13-year-old daughter Miley.

2020 – Japan announced that the Summer Olympics in Tokyo would be postponed due to COVID-19.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MARCH 24:

Carol Kaye – 91 years old (1935) – Bass guitarist

Bob Mackie – 86 years old (1940) – Fashion designer

Robert T. Bakker – 81 years old (1945) – Paleontologist and academic

Dennis Erickson – 79 years old (1947) – Football player and coach

Christine Gregoire – 79 years old (1947) – Lawyer and politician, 22nd governor of Washington

Tabitha King – 77 years old (1949) – Author and poet

Pat Bradley – 75 years old (1951) – Golfer

Tommy Hilfiger – 75 years old (1951) – Fashion designer, founded the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation

Anita L. Allen – 73 years old (1953) – Lawyer, philosopher, and academic

Donna Pescow – 72 years old (1954) – Actress and director

Steve Ballmer – 70 years old (1956) – Businessman

Bill Wray – 70 years old (1956) – Cartoonist and painter

Mike Woodson – 68 years old (1958) – Basketball player and coach

Renaldo Nehemiah – 67 years old (1959) – Hurdler and football player

Barry Horowitz – 66 years old (1960) – Wrestler

Kelly Le Brock – 66 years old (1960) – English-American actress and model

Scott Pruett – 66 years old (1960) – Race car driver

Annabella Sciorra – 66 years old (1960) – Actress

Star Jones – 64 years old (1962) – Lawyer, journalist, and talk show host

Patterson Hood – 62 years old (1964) – Singer-songwriter

Peter Jacobson – 61 years old (1965) – Actor

The Undertaker – 61 years old (1965) – Wrestler and actor

Floyd Heard – 60 years old (1966) – Sprinter and coach

Diann Roffe – 59 years old (1967) – Skier

Lauren Bowles – 56 years old (1970) – Actress

Lara Flynn Boyle – 56 years old (1970) – Actress

Mike Vanderjagt – 56 years old (1970) – Canadian-American football player

Tig Notaro – 55 years old (1971) – Comedian and actor

Megyn Price – 55 years old (1971) – Actress

Steve Karsay – 54 years old (1972) – Baseball player and coach

Jim Parsons – 53 years old (1973) – Actor

Alyson Hannigan – 52 years old (1974) – Actress

Aaron Brooks – 50 years old (1976) – Football player

Peyton Manning – 50 years old (1976) – Football player and entrepreneur

Olivia Burnette – 49 years old (1977) – Actress

Jessica Chastain – 49 years old (1977) – Actress

Amir Arison – 48 years old (1978) – Actor

Lake Bell – 47 years old (1979) – Actress, director, and screenwriter

Norris Hopper – 47 years old (1979) – Baseball player

Andrew Hutchinson – 46 years old (1980) – Ice hockey player

Mike Adams – 45 years old (1981) – Football player

Ron Hainsey – 45 years old (1981) – Ice hockey player

Dirk Hayhurst – 45 years old (1981) – Baseball player

Philip Winchester – 45 years old (1981) – Actor

Jake Hager – 44 years old (1982) – Mixed martial artist and professional wrestler

Corey Hart – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player

Dustin McGowan – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player

T. J. Ford – 43 years old (1983) – Basketball player

Chris Bosh – 42 years old (1984) – Basketball player

CJ Perry – 41 years old (1985) – Wrestler, manager, and actress

Starlin Castro – 36 years old (1990) – Baseball player

Lacey Evans – 36 years old (1990) – Wrestler

JonTron – 36 years old (1990) – YouTuber

Myles Turner – 30 years old (1996) – Basketball player

Christopher Briney – 28 years old (1998) – Actor

Ethel Cain – 28 years old (1998) – Singer-songwriter, record producer, and model

Damar Hamlin – 28 years old (1998) – Football player

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MARCH 24:

World Tuberculosis Day: Honoring the relentless human spirit in the face of a formidable adversary, a disease that has shaped history and medical progress.
National Cheesesteak Day: The delicious flavor of grilled onions and thinly sliced beef steak, topped with some ooey-gooey melted provolone cheese – that’s what the cheesesteak sandwich is all about.
National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day: Satisfy your sweet tooth with a delightful treat that combines the goodness of fruit and the indulgence of chocolate.
National Adverse Drug Event Awareness Day: National Adverse Drug Event Awareness Day highlights a serious healthcare issue: the high number of injuries and deaths caused by adverse drug events (ADEs). These incidents, ranging from unexpected reactions to medication errors, claim thousands of lives each year in the U.S. ADEs remain a major cause of emergency visits...
International Day for Achievers: International Day for Achievers invites people to slow down and notice progress, not just perfection. It is a day for recognizing the visible wins that earn applause and the quieter victories that often pass without comment, like steady effort, resilience, and follow-through. Whether someone is building a business, raising a...
Flatmate’s Day: Flatmate’s Day is a special day dedicated to celebrating the joys (and occasional oddities) of shared living. Observed on March 24, it offers a friendly nudge to appreciate the people who split the rent, share the Wi-Fi, and keep life interesting simply by existing on the other side of the...
National Agriculture Day: National Agriculture Day is a special moment set aside to recognize the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. This event shines a spotlight on the farmers, ranchers, and all the workers involved in producing the food, clothing, and even the biofuels we rely on every day. It's easy to overlook...
National Each Person Is A Person of Worth Day: National Each Person is A Person of Worth Day champions a heartfelt idea: everyone is valuable just as they are. This day celebrates the truth that human worth doesn’t hinge on achievements, wealth, or status but is an innate quality shared by all. Emphasizing worth as a birthright rather than...
Diabetes Alert Day: Diabetes, a disease that impacts blood glucose levels, currently affects more than 38 million Americans, which is over 11% of the population. Another 97 million people in the US have prediabetes, which has the potential to become diabetes. Diabetes Alert Day allows individuals, families, medical professionals, nutritionists, and others to spread...
National Cocktail Day: Whether enjoying an evening out on the town, eating dinner with that special someone, or snuggling up at home in front of the fire, there is certainly a cocktail for every occasion.
Commonwealth Covenant Day: Commonwealth Covenant Day is a significant public holiday in the Northern Mariana Islands. It celebrates the unique political bond between the islands and the United States, marked by the 1976 Covenant Agreement. This agreement established the islands as a U.S. commonwealth, allowing them to govern themselves while maintaining strong ties...
International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims: Some stories are buried deep—hidden by fear, silence, or time. The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims brings those stories into the light. It’s about the right to know what really happened when people’s rights were stolen or...
Independent Accommodation Day: Independent Accommodation Day celebrates the charm of unique places to stay. From cozy cottages to stylish city apartments, these spots offer more than just a bed. They provide personal touches and warm welcomes that large hotels often miss. This day shines a light on the people behind these stays—hosts who...
March Madness: Get your game face on for March Madness! This high-energy tournament is a slam dunk of excitement, passion, and heart-pumping action. So grab your team colors, gear up for the showdown, and let the madness begin!
National Tsunami Awareness Week: National Tsunami Awareness Week sparks a wave of readiness during this time each year. This week is set aside to spread knowledge about the serious threat of tsunamis, especially in regions with high risk! How to Observe National Tsunami Awareness Week Host a Tsunami Trivia Night Gather friends or neighbors for a...
Make Mine Chocolate: "Make Mine Chocolate" is a lively campaign urging people to think twice before giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. The campaign encourages people to opt for chocolate bunnies instead. This approach helps spread the message of responsible pet ownership while offering a sweet alternative that won't end up in shelters...
Tick Bite Prevention Week: Tick Bite Prevention Week, celebrated annually, is a vital period dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of tick bites and how to prevent them! How to Celebrate Tick Bite Prevention Week Celebrating Tick Bite Prevention Week can be both educational and fun. Here are several suggestions to get involved...
Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination: The Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination brings communities together in support of a world free from racial hatred and inequality. This UN-led initiative highlights the voices and stories of those affected by racism worldwide, shining a light on the struggles and resilience of diverse...
European-wide Action Week Against Racism: European-wide Action Week Against Racism connects communities across borders to take a clear stand against hate. It’s not just a campaign—it’s a shared effort. Schools, community groups, and everyday citizens take part. They speak out in their own way, using clear messages and public spaces to reject racism. The focus stays...
National Cleaning Week: Sprucing up the living space can be quite the chore, but the end result is a refreshed and orderly home to be proud of.
UNESCO-ITI World Theater Week: UNESCO-ITI World Theater Week celebrates the magic of live performance across cultures. It highlights voices that rise from every stage. Artists, storytellers, and directors come together to share something real. These stories spark laughter, stir emotion, and open new ways of seeing the world. From packed auditoriums to outdoor street corners...
National Green Week: National Green Week is an exciting initiative that brings attention to the importance of environmental sustainability. Schools and organizations across the country use this week to engage students in activities that promote greener living. The event aims to inspire young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits that can make a lasting...