On This Day, Dec. 28: Iowa becomes 29th state in U.S.

State Highway 92 runs through rural Keokuk County, Iowa, named for a Sac Indian chief, August 6. Iowa is the crossroads of agriculture and presidential politics with its first-in-the-nation caucuses. On Dec. 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted into the United States as the 29th state. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
State Highway 92 runs through rural Keokuk County, Iowa, named for a Sac Indian chief, August 6. Iowa is the crossroads of agriculture and presidential politics with its first-in-the-nation caucuses. On Dec. 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted into the United States as the 29th state. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
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Dec. 28 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated. Nearly all British monarchs since then have been crowned in coronation ceremonies at the church, including the most recent, King Charles III on May 6, 2023.

In 1832, John Calhoun, at odds with U.S. President Andrew Jackson, became the first U.S. vice president to resign.

In 1846, Iowa was admitted into the United States as the 29th state.

In 1869, a group of tailors in Philadelphia staged the first Labor Day ceremonies in the United States.

On December 28, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a law banning American parents from adopting Russian children. File Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Pool
On December 28, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a law banning American parents from adopting Russian children. File Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Pool
File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

In 1895, French film pioneers Auguste Lumiere and Louis Lumiere showed the first commercial motion pictures at a Paris cafe.

On December 28, 1832, John Calhoun, at odds with U.S. President Andrew Jackson, became the first U.S. vice president to resign. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
On December 28, 1832, John Calhoun, at odds with U.S. President Andrew Jackson, became the first U.S. vice president to resign. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

In 1908, an earthquake in the Messina area of southern Italy killed at least 80,000 people. Some estimates put the death toll upwards of 200,000.

In 1950, advancing Chinese troops crossed the 38th Parallel, dividing line between North and South Korea, to help the communist North Koreans fight U.S.-led U.N. forces.

Tourists walk around Westminster Abbey on April 27, 2011, as London prepares for the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. On December 28, 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
Tourists walk around Westminster Abbey on April 27, 2011, as London prepares for the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. On December 28, 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

In 1981, the United States' first test-tube baby, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, was born in a Norfolk, Va., hospital.

In 1985, warring Lebanese Muslim and Christian leaders signed a peace agreement backed by Syria.

Bodies of victims lie in Messina, Italy, after an earthquake struck the region December 28, 1908. File Photo by Luca Comerio/Wikimedia
Bodies of victims lie in Messina, Italy, after an earthquake struck the region December 28, 1908. File Photo by Luca Comerio/Wikimedia

In 1991, Time magazine named CNN founder Ted Turner man of the year.

In 2007, Nepal's interim parliament voted to abolish its monarchy and became a federal democratic republic. King Gyanendra was formally deposed May 28, 2008.

Turner Enterprises Inc. Chairman Ted Turner participates in a panel at the 2010 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 26, 2010. On December 28, 1991, Time magazine named Turner man of the year. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Turner Enterprises Inc. Chairman Ted Turner participates in a panel at the 2010 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 26, 2010. On December 28, 1991, Time magazine named Turner man of the year. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
File Photo by Sagarkca11/Wikimedia
File Photo by Sagarkca11/Wikimedia

In 2012, a 23-year-old woman who was gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi died at a hospital in Singapore. The attack by six men on the woman and her boyfriend caused outrage and protests throughout India.

In 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning American parents from adopting Russian children.

In 2014, Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea, killing 155 passengers and seven crew. Searchers found the aircraft and bodies floating in the sea two days after it disappeared.

In 2015, Japan and South Korea reached a deal to settle the issue of "comfort women," sex slave victims forced to serve in Japanese military brothels during World War II. Tokyo issued a formal apology and agreed to pay $8.3 million.

In 2019, a car bomb rocked Somalia's capital of Mogadishu, killing more than 80 people and injuring 125 others.

File Photo by Said Yusuf Warsame/EPA-EFE
File Photo by Said Yusuf Warsame/EPA-EFE