Colo Born: First Gorilla Bred in Captivity
Colo, the first gorilla ever bred in captivity, arrived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, shattering the belief that these primates could not survive outside their wild habitat. This breakthrough launched decades of successful captive breeding programs that now safeguard endangered mountain gorillas from extinction.
December 22, 1956
70 years ago
What Else Happened on December 22
Roman soldiers dragged Emperor Vitellius through the streets of Rome before executing him at the Gemonian stairs, ending his chaotic eight-month reign. His viol…
Vespasian's proclamation as emperor ended the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors, while the brutal execution of Vitellius on the Gemonian stairs signaled a decis…
Innocent I walked into the papal chair his father had just left. Anastasius I died in 401. His son took over the same year. No election drama. No debate. The Ro…
The ground beneath the Persian city of Damghan violently fractured, leveling the regional capital and claiming an estimated 200,000 lives. This catastrophe rema…
Huang Chao's rebel army walked into Luoyang without a fight. The eastern capital — home to half a million people, palaces that had stood for centuries — simply …
Stephen of Blois seizes the English throne just three weeks after King Henry I's death, sparking a civil war that fractures the kingdom for nearly two decades. …
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.