United States History On This Date: March 21

1871 — Stanley Begins Search for Dr. Livingstone

Journalist Henry Morton Stanley departed New York for Africa on a mission funded by the New York Herald to locate missing explorer David Livingstone. His journey became one of the most famous episodes in 19th‑century exploration and international reporting.

1963 — Alcatraz Federal Prison Closes

The federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island officially shut down after nearly three decades of housing some of America’s most notorious inmates. High operating costs and deteriorating facilities led the government to end its use as a maximum‑security prison.

1965 — Martin Luther King Jr. Begins Selma‑to‑Montgomery March

After two earlier attempts were blocked, Dr. King and thousands of supporters began the successful Selma‑to‑Montgomery voting‑rights march. Their peaceful demonstration drew national attention and helped build momentum for passage of the Voting Rights Act.

1980 — President Carter Announces Olympic Boycott

President Jimmy Carter declared that the United States would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The decision sparked intense debate and led dozens of allied nations to join the boycott.

Civil rights leader the Rev.. Martin Luther King Jr. and wife Coretta Scott King (center right, hand in hand) lead others during the Selma to Montgomery marches held in support of voter rights in Alabama, late March 1965.