In History, Today on May 31

The Catacombs of Rome were rediscovered by Antonio Bosio, an Italian scholar and archaeologist, marking a significant moment in the study of early Christian history and archaeology.

Samuel Pepys, the English naval administrator and Member of Parliament, recorded the last entry in his famous diary, which provides a detailed first-hand account of major events in 17th-century England.

The United States enacted its first copyright law, the Copyright Act of 1790, which laid the foundation for copyright protection in the country.

The clock tower at the Houses of Parliament, which houses Big Ben, began keeping time for the first time.

The Johnstown Flood occurred in Pennsylvania, United States, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, killing over 2,200 people and causing widespread destruction.

The Union of South Africa was created from the British colonies of the Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State, marking the beginning of a unified South African state.

South Africa became a republic, officially leaving the Commonwealth of Nations following a referendum in 1960, which marked a significant shift in its political landscape.

The 7.9 magnitude Ancash earthquake struck off the coast of Peru, triggering a massive landslide that buried the town of Yungay and killed an estimated 70,000 people.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is completed, allowing oil to be transported from the North Slope of Alaska to the port of Valdez.

Angola's government and UNITA rebels signed a peace agreement in Lisbon, Portugal, in an attempt to end the long-standing civil war in Angola.

The Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge in Canada, was officially opened, connecting Prince Edward Island to the mainland of New Brunswick.

The Millennium Bridge in London was officially opened to the public, but was closed two days later due to unexpected swaying, leading to its nickname, the 'Wobbly Bridge.'

Vanity Fair magazine revealed that former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt was 'Deep Throat,' the secret informant who provided information to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during the Watergate scandal.

Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla of ships attempting to break the blockade of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nine activists and international condemnation.

The European Union lifted its arms embargo on the Syrian opposition, allowing member states to provide weapons to rebel groups fighting against the Assad regime.

U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in Afghanistan in exchange for five Taliban detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, sparking controversy and debate in the United States.

A mass shooting occurred at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia, resulting in the deaths of 12 people and injuries to several others.