View Historical Events by Day: What Happened on June 17 in History?

Sir Francis Drake is believed to have landed on the coast of California in or near Drakes Bay on the Point Reyes Peninsula, Marin County, California. Drake claimed the land for England, naming it Nova Albion (New Albion). At the time, Drake was searching for a harbor to repair his ship, the Golden Hind which had developed a leak during his circumnavigation trip. More

The Battle of Bunker Hill, a pivotal early battle of the American Revolutionary War, takes place near Boston, Mass, it resulted in heavy casualties for the British, although a tactical victory for them, proving the colonists could stand up to the British army and boosting revolutionary morale. The battle took place primarily on Breed's Hill, adjacent to Bunker Hill, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, overlooking Boston. More

The disassembled Statue of Liberty arrives in New York aboard the French steamer Isere . The statue, a gift from the people of France, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was dedicated more than a year later on October 28, 1886 and has became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy. More

The United States imposes the protectionist Smoot-Hawley Tariff bill becomes law, raising the average tariff by some 20 percent and worsening an already suffering world economy. Formally known as the United States Tariff Act of 1930 It significantly raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods in an attempt to protect American farmers and businesses from foreign competition during the Great Depression. It is widely criticized for worsening the Depression by triggering retaliatory tariffs from other nations, leading to a collapse in global trade. The law got its name from its chief supporters, Representative Willis Hawley of Oregon and Senator Reed Smoot of Utah. More

Iceland officially becomes a republic following the Icelandic constitutional .referendum, where over 95% of voters chose independence from Denmark. This decision was made after the Treaty of Union with Denmark expired in 1943, and with Denmark still under German occupation, Icelanders opted to establish their own republic.

Five men are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., leading to the Watergate scandal and the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon. More