This roundup highlights notable events from Nov. 13 across history, ranging from the 1927 opening of the Holland Tunnel to the deadly 2015 Paris attacks. It covers technological and political milestones — including the AK-47's development and Carl Stokes’ election — as well as major natural disasters like the Bhola cyclone and Nevado del Ruiz eruption. The summary also notes recent discoveries and cultural milestones, such as the world’s largest-known coral and Harry Styles on Vogue.
On This Day — Nov. 13: From the Holland Tunnel to the Paris Attacks
This roundup highlights notable events from Nov. 13 across history, ranging from the 1927 opening of the Holland Tunnel to the deadly 2015 Paris attacks. It covers technological and political milestones — including the AK-47's development and Carl Stokes’ election — as well as major natural disasters like the Bhola cyclone and Nevado del Ruiz eruption. The summary also notes recent discoveries and cultural milestones, such as the world’s largest-known coral and Harry Styles on Vogue.
02:18 PM, 11/13/2025Culture
On This Day — Nov. 13
Nov. 13 (UPI) — Notable events that occurred on this date in history:
1927: The Holland Tunnel opened beneath the Hudson River, creating the first vehicular link between New York City and New Jersey and transforming regional travel and commerce.
1947: The Soviet Union completed development of the AK-47 assault rifle. An estimated 70–100 million of these weapons have been produced worldwide; its designer, Gen. Mikhail Kalashnikov, later expressed regret over the rifle’s use by terrorists and in conflicts.
1956: In Browder v. Gayle, federal courts ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional — a legal turning point that helped bring an end to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and advance the civil rights movement.
1967: Carl Stokes was elected mayor of Cleveland, becoming one of the first Black mayors of a major U.S. city and a symbol of political progress during the civil rights era.
1970: The Bhola cyclone struck the Ganges Delta in what is now Bangladesh, producing catastrophic loss of life; estimates put the death toll at more than 500,000 people in one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 20th century.
1982: Thousands of Vietnam War veterans gathered in Washington, D.C., for the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, honoring the service and sacrifice of those who served.
1985: The Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia, triggering deadly lahars that flattened towns and caused approximately 23,000 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in modern history.
2010: Myanmar’s military government released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. The National League for Democracy leader, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, had spent many years confined to her home.
2011: Economist and former EU commissioner Mario Monti was chosen to succeed Silvio Berlusconi as Italy’s prime minister after Parliament approved austerity measures to address the country’s large public debt; Monti served until April 2013.
2013: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 106,185 people had selected plans in the new Affordable Care Act marketplace through October, roughly 20% of early enrollment expectations amid ongoing website challenges.
2015: Coordinated terrorist attacks across Paris killed 130 people and injured hundreds more, in one of Europe’s deadliest terrorist incidents in recent decades.
2020: British singer Harry Styles became the first solo man to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, sparking widespread discussion about fashion and gender norms.
2024: National Geographic scientists announced the discovery of the world’s largest-known coral in the Solomon Islands. Measuring about 112 feet wide and 105 feet long, and possibly undisturbed for up to 300 years, the coral is larger than many whales and highlights the importance of marine conservation.
These entries reflect a mix of technological milestones, political and civil-rights advances, natural disasters and cultural moments that collectively mark Nov. 13 in history.