December 18th

• 1271

  Kublai Khan renames his empire 'Yuan', beginning the Yuan Dynasty of China.

• 1892

  'The Nutcracker' ballet by Tchaikovsky premieres in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

• 1936

  First giant panda, Su-Lin, arrives in the US from China. View Post →

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• 1957

  World's first full-scale nuclear power plant begins operation in Pennsylvania.

• 1966

  'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' airs for the first time on CBS.

• 1984

  'A Christmas Carol' starring George C. Scott premieres in the US.

• 1993

  MGM Grand Las Vegas opens, the largest hotel complex at the time.

• 2018

  Meteor explodes over the Bering Sea with 10 times Hiroshima's energy.

• 1946

  Steven Spielberg, American film director, is born.

• 1963

  Brad Pitt, American actor and producer, is born.

• 1898

  New automobile speed record set at 39 mph.