History of the Day for:
December 17
- 1538: King Henry VIII, who had declared himself head of the English church, was excommunicated by Pope Paul III.
- 1728: Congregation Shearith Isreal of New York purchased a lot on Mill Street in lower Manhattan, to build New York's first synagogue.
- 1777: France recognized the independence of the 13 colonies in America.
- 1791: A traffic regulation in New York City established the first one-way street.
- 1900: The New Ellis Island Immigration station was completed, costing $1.5 million.
- 1903: Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first successful controlled flight in a powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer, on the beach at Kitty Hawk, N.C.
- 1933: The NFL held its first playoff game in Wrigley Field with the Chicago Bears defeating the New York Giants, 23-21.
- 1936: Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen kidded around with his pal, Charlie McCarthy, for the first time on TV.
- 1953: The Federal Communications Commission decided to approve RCA's black-and-white-compatible color television specifications.
- 1962: The Beatles made their first British TV appearance on "People and Places" live from Manchester, England. They performed their UK debut single and Top 20 hit "Love Me Do."
- 1965: The Astrodome opened in Houston. The first event was a concert headlined by Judy Garland and The Supremes.
- 1969: An estimated 50 million television viewers watched as singer Tiny Tim married his fiancee, Miss Vicky, on NBC's "Tonight Show." They divorced a few years later.
- 1975: Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was sentenced in federal court in Sacramento, Calif., to life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Ford on Sept. 5, 1975.
- 1976: Superstation WTBS in Atlanta went national.
- 1977: Elvis Costello & The Attractions made their U.S. TV debut on "Saturday Night Live." Producer Lorne Michaels refused to allow Costello to perform "Radio, Radio" because of the song's criticism of the broadcasting industry, but a few measures into "Less than Zero," Costello halted his group and played the forbidden song.
- 1986: Mrs Davina Thompson made medical history by having the first heart, lung and liver transplant, which took place at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England.
- 1991: The NBA's most lopsided game took place when Cleveland beat Miami, 148-80.
- 1999: The United Nations General Assembly passes resolution 54/134 designating November 25 as the annual International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women.
- 2002: Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.
- 2003: The Soham murder trial ends at the Old Bailey in London, with Ian Huntley found guilty of two counts of murder. His girlfriend Maxine Carr is found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
- 2003: SpaceShipOne flight 11P, piloted by Brian Binnie, makes its first supersonic flight.
- 2005: Anti-WTO protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.