On This Day for July 16 - First atomic bomb exploded near Alamogordo, New Mexico, Ginger Rogers is born, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, [click here to view](. July 16 [Ginger Rogers.] BORN ON THIS DAY 1911 Ginger Rogers American dancer and actress [Ginger Rogers]( born this day in 1911, achieved fame as the partner of [Fred Astaire]( in a series of popular musicals and later won an [Oscar]( for her dramatic performance in Kitty Foyle (1940). [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( [The first atomic bomb test, near Alamogordo, N.M., July 16, 1945.] ON THIS DAY 1945 First atomic bomb exploded near Alamogordo, New Mexico The [United States]( tested the first [atomic bomb]( this day in 1945 near [Alamogordo]( New Mexico, and the following month dropped atomic bombs on [Hiroshima]( and [Nagasaki]( in Japan, hastening the end of [World War II](. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( [Discover the NEW Britannica Kids! Click Here to Learn More!]( MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY [Romero, George A.] 2017: American filmmaker [George A. Romero]( was known for his [horror films]( notably Night of the Living Dead (1968), which launched a series of related movies—died at age 77. [Millennium Park, Chicago, 2008.] 2004: [Chicago]( officially opened its Millennium Park, which featured fountains, eye-catching sculptures, and a large outdoor concert facility designed by architect [Frank Gehry](. [Rogge, Jacques] 2001: [Jacques Rogge]( of Belgium was chosen to replace [Juan António Samaranch]( as the president of the [International Olympic Committee](. [Kennedy family] 1999: American publisher and lawyer [John F. Kennedy, Jr.]( the only son of U.S. President [John F. Kennedy]( and [Jacqueline Kennedy]( died after the airplane he was piloting crashed off [Martha's Vineyard]( Massachusetts; also killed were his wife and her sister. [Will Ferrell.] 1967: American actor and writer [Will Ferrell]( who was known for his impersonations and for his portrayals of dim-witted but endearing characters, was born. [cover of The Catcher in the Rye] 1951: [J.D. Salinger]( The Catcher in the Rye, which centred on the sensitive, rebellious adolescent [Holden Caulfield]( was published and later became a classic. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1968 Barry Sanders American football player 1967 Will Ferrell American actor and writer 1907 Barbara Stanwyck American actress 1872 Roald Amundsen Norwegian explorer 1862 Ida B. Wells-Barnett American journalist and social reformer [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( FOLLOW: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, [click here](. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2018 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( • [Help](