Here’s a brief look back in time for this day, May 31.
In 1859, Big Ben, often regarded as London’s crown jewel, begins ticking for the first time. Officially known as the Great Clock of Westminster, its Gothic style was the brain child of Augustus Pugin and Sir Charles Berry – the latter of which was also in charge of rebuilding the Palace of Westminster. It was in construction for nearly six years having started in 1853.
In 1889, the South Fork Dam collapses in Pennsylvania, largely destroying the city of Johnstown. Steady rain in the area persisted over several days, which caused debris to clog up the dam to the point of collapse. The rushing waters of the Little Conemaugh River claimed the lives of over 2,000 people as entire buildings wash away within seconds.
In 1921, the Tulsa Race Massacre begins as white supremacist mobs attack Black-owned homes and businesses. Some were even deputized by local law enforcement to solely carry-out the attacks. It is not known how many African-Americans were killed, with some ranges estimating between 39 to 300.