Good Morning! It’s Friday, March 21, 2025. I am Dom Einhorn, your lead curator, and here are your insights into what makes this day in history relevant today. First time reading? Join our community of intellectually curious readers who explore the history behind every day. [Sign up here]

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Today in History

Marquee Event of the Day

> March 21, 1963: Alcatraz is closed. The U.S. federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, once home to some of the nation’s most notorious inmates—including Al Capone and Robert Stroud, known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz”—was officially closed on this day in 1963.

Why this matters: The closure of Alcatraz in 1963 marked the end of an era in American penal history. Renowned for its isolated location and high-security measures, the prison had become a symbol of the federal government’s tough stance on crime. Its shutdown reflected shifting attitudes toward incarceration, as rising operational costs and deteriorating facilities rendered the island impractical. In the decades since, Alcatraz has transformed into a powerful cultural and historical icon—serving as a reminder of the evolving nature of the U.S. justice system and drawing millions of visitors as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

How much do you know about Alcatraz? Find out now with our special quiz about the famous prison.

Notable Events

• March 21, 1965 - Martin Luther King Jr. leads the march from Selma to Montgomery.

• March 21, 2006 - Jack Dorsey, cofounder of Twitter, posted the platform’s first public tweet, writing, “just setting up my twttr.”

• March 21, 1685 - German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in history, was born.

Echoes in Time

Here are two events from March 21 that continue to resonate in the present day.

1. Event: March 21, 1980 - President Carter announces Olympic boycott.

Lasting Significance: On March 21, 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. This decision marked a significant moment in Cold War history, as it brought global political tensions directly into the realm of international sports.

The boycott had far-reaching implications. It led to the absence of over 60 countries from the Games, including key allies such as Canada, West Germany, and Japan, and denied many athletes the opportunity to compete at the peak of their careers. It also set a precedent for the politicization of the Olympic movement, which was further highlighted when the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The 1980 boycott remains a powerful example of how international events can influence and disrupt global sports, reflecting the broader geopolitical conflicts of the time.

2. Event: March 21, 1943 - Second military conspiracy plan to assassinate Hitler in a week fails.

Lasting Significance: A second attempt within a week to assassinate Adolf Hitler failed, underscoring the growing resistance to his regime within the German military. This particular plot, known as part of Operation Spark, involved Colonel Rudolf von Gersdorff, who intended to kill Hitler by detonating explosives hidden on his person during a visit to a military exhibition in Berlin. The plan failed when Hitler left the event earlier than expected, giving Gersdorff no opportunity to act.

The historical significance of this failed attempt lies in its revelation of internal opposition to Hitler among high-ranking members of the Wehrmacht. It demonstrated that not all German military leaders supported the Nazi dictatorship and that some were willing to risk their lives to bring it down. These plots also laid the groundwork for the more well-known July 20, 1944, assassination attempt led by Claus von Stauffenberg.

Though unsuccessful, these early conspiracies highlighted the existence of organized resistance within Nazi Germany and contributed to the postwar understanding of the moral and political complexities faced by Germans under the Third Reich.

Quote of the Day

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Why KRONIKL? Inspired by the timeless concept of chronicles, KRONIKL is dedicated to bringing you the most intriguing, thought-provoking stories from this date. Culture, science, politics, and more — all condensed for a quick, insightful read that connects your present with our past.

*Disclosure: Masters of Trivia is a quiz platform founded by Dom Einhorn and owned by Intelligent Games LLC—the same company that brings you the KRONIKL newsletter.