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What is the most famous/important event that has taken place in (or been highly associated with) your city over the last generation? This event should capture national or world-wide attention via the news media and have been of significant importance or public fascination.
Feel free to list more than one, but try to name a top choice.
Some examples that immediately come to mind:
New York City and Washington D.C. (9/11)
New Orleans (Hurricane Katrina)
Oklahoma City (1995 bombing)
Los Angeles (1992 race riots)
Denver (Columbine shooting)
Seattle (Death of Kurt Cobain or 1999 WTO protests)
For my cities, I would say:
Portland, Oregon:
- Mount St. Helens Eruption (1980) - this was a huge event but it may be a stretch to say that it is strongly associated with Portland.
- Gay mayor election and subsequent sex scandal (2008) - LOL
Los Angeles, California:
- Rodney King race riots (1992) - Probably my #1 pick
- Robert Kennedy assassination (1968)
- O.J. Simpson trial (1995)
- Death of Michael Jackson (2009)
What say you? Not all cities are going to have had huge events happen in their history, but just name the one(s) that come the closest.
I wish I could think of something else. But honestly, probably the Sox winning the world series in '04.
For Boston? I suppose there was also the '04 Democratic National Convention as well as other substantial historical events, all though maybe in the distant past.
For Boston? I suppose there was also the '04 Democratic National Convention as well as other substantial historical events, all though maybe in the distant past.
The DNC was big but not as big as the WS. It probably won't be remembered as well either though. Other than Obama's speech the '04 DNC wasn't remarkably historic (not like how the 68 DNC in Chicago was a huge historic moment for example)
Oakland CA: Horace Grant shooting, trial, subsequent "riots." I put riots in quotes because it was literally 3-4 blocks. Oh and the crazy guy who killed 3 police officers after a high speed chase.
Except for being home based for the first elected African American president, and having his acceptance speech in Grant Park. He opened his speech with, "Hello, Chicago."
Not a long-lasting event with impact on the city like Katrina, but a major event nonetheless.
- Rodney King race riots (1992) - Probably my #1 pick
- Robert Kennedy assassination (1968)
- O.J. Simpson trial (1995)
- Death of Michael Jackson (2009)
For L.A. it was definitely Paris Hilton getting arrested. Wait, no it was Lindsay Lohan getting arrested. Wait, no it was Paris Hilton getting arrested again. No wait, it was Lindsay Lohan getting arrested again. Wait...
In all seriousness the Northridge Earthquake was definitely more of an important event than the death of Michael Jackson. I agree with you that the riots in '92 were the single biggest even though. It changed LAPD, and whole sections of the city, and I think it actually started a trend for LA to pay attention to the inner city and reinvest in the downtown area. For many reasons that is the single most important event in LA in my opinion.
Not sure - ENIAC - the worlds first modern comupter built at Penn
The Move Bombing was pretty substantial; especially here
Eagles winning the Super Bowl, oh wait
Legioneers Breakout at the Bellvue
none that are as prominent as some others
911 and OJ stick out in my psyche as the biggest; Katrina was pretty significant too
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He opened his speech with, "Hello, Chicago."
