December 15 is way more interesting than you think. Sure, most of us are busy gearing up for the holidays or grumbling about the cold, but history has been busy too. From groundbreaking inventions to dramatic assassinations and even inexplicable mysteries, this date is packed with stories that deserve a doubletake. Here’s a countdown of 15 December 15 events you didn’t know you needed in your life (you’re welcome).
1. The Birth of Your Constitutional BFFs (1791)
Let’s kick this off with something quintessentially American: the Bill of Rights. That’s right, those first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution—the ones that gave us freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and a bunch of other things we love to argue about—were officially ratified on December 15, 1791. Without this document, we’d have a very different country. Can you even imagine? No First Amendment memes? Tragic.
2. The Ice Cream Cone Was Patented (1903)
Thank Italo Marchiony the next time you chow down on a double scoop of rocky road. On this day in 1903, Marchiony got a patent for his gamechanging invention: the ice cream cone. Before this? People ate ice cream out of bowls. BOWLS. Portable dessert was born on December 15, and honestly, it’s the best thing to ever happen to summer.
3. Goodbye, Sitting Bull (1890)
In one of the most tragic moments in Native American history, Sitting Bull, the legendary Hunkpapa Lakota leader, was killed by Indian police during an attempt to arrest him. His death was part of a growing tension that led to the Wounded Knee Massacre later that month. This moment is as heartbreaking as it is important—a somber reminder of the injustices faced by Native peoples.
4. Diamonds Are Forever (1954)
On this day, U.S. scientists working on a topsecret project at GE Labs realized they had synthesized diamonds for the first time. These weren’t just for show—they were made for industrial uses like cutting tools. But still, the fact that scientists were basically cooking up diamonds in a lab? Iconic.
5. Disney’s Farewell (1966)
Walt Disney, the man who dreamed up Mickey Mouse, Snow White, and the happiest place on Earth, passed away on December 15, 1966. Burbank, California, hasn’t been the same since. But Disney’s legacy is everywhere—from theme parks to animated classics to the fact that Disney+ exists. You’ve probably already bingewatched something in his honor.
6. “We Are Not Sick” (1973)
In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association finally removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. December 15 marks the day LGBTQ+ individuals were officially declared not mentally ill—a huge win for progress and a significant step in the fight for equality.
7. Hello, Venus! (1970)
The Soviet Union did something pretty wild on December 15, 1970: Venera 7 became the first spacecraft to land on another planet (Venus) and send data back to Earth. Sure, it melted after about 20 minutes because Venus is basically a hellscape, but it still counts as an epic win for humanity and space nerds everywhere.
8. The USS Cyclops’ Creepy Prelude (1917)
This one’s straight out of a conspiracy theory podcast. On December 15, 1917, 18 crew members of the USS Cyclops vanished without explanation while the ship was docked in Norfolk, Virginia. The following year, the ship disappeared completely, fueling Bermuda Triangle lore. What happened to the crew? Nobody knows. Spooky.
9. Gemini 6A’s Rendezvous in Space (1965)
NASA was doing cool space stuff even in the 1960s. On this day, Gemini 6A was launched and performed the firstever space rendezvous with Gemini 7. Think of it like two cars pulling up side by side on the highway—except the “highway” is outer space and the “cars” are futuristic capsules.
10. Plastic Christmas Trees Changed the Game (1937)
Love or hate them, plastic Christmas trees are everywhere now. But rewind to December 15, 1937, and the world saw its first artificial Christmas tree made from bristles. People thought it was bizarre at the time, but it paved the way for today’s sparkly, prelit holiday monstrosities that make decorating a breeze.
11. Mongolian Leader’s Assassination Fallout (1998)
Mongolia doesn’t usually hit international headlines, but December 15, 1998, was different. Following the assassination of political leader Sanjaasürengiin Zorig earlier in the year, a series of weird and wild revelations surfaced on this day, involving secret factions and shadowy conspiracies. It’s basically a reallife political thriller.
12. The Wow! Signal Stayed Weird (1977)
The “Wow! Signal” was detected in August 1977, but December 15 of the same year deepened the mystery: scientists still couldn’t figure out if it was an extraterrestrial message or just an Earthbased anomaly. It’s called the “Wow! Signal” because, well, that’s what the researcher wrote when he saw it. And honestly? Same.
13. The Arctic Got Freaky Warm (2016)
On December 15, 2016, scientists recorded absurdly warm temperatures in the Arctic—up to 36°F (20°C) above normal. The Arctic, a place not known for its tropical vibes, left researchers scratching their heads. Climate change? Probably. Creepy? Definitely.
14. The Other Amelia Earhart (1939)
While everyone knows about the Amelia Earhart’s mysterious disappearance, few know that a ship named after her sank on December 15, 1939. The SS Amelia Earhart was carrying cargo when it ran aground and sank in the Philippines. It’s a weird coincidence—or is it? Cue eerie music.
15. The 19YearOld Who Stole a Plane (2018)
Here’s a modern twist: on December 15, 2018, a 19yearold in Seattle casually stole a small plane and managed to fly it without any formal training. He landed safely, somehow avoiding disaster, and immediately became a folk hero on Reddit. Don’t try this at home, though.
So, there you have it—December 15 is officially the most underrated day in history. Whether you’re munching on an ice cream cone or marveling at how diamonds are made in a lab, take a moment to appreciate the sheer weirdness and wonder of this date. Who knows? Maybe something wild will happen this year, too.
