On this day, Feb. 27

1896 The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, which developed from the Symphony Society, presented its first concert at Carnegie Music Hall with Frederic Archer as conductor.

1933 Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire; Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming the Communists, used the fire to justify suspending civil liberties.

1950 The Central Christian Church in Bellefield was destroyed by fire; the loss was estimated at $175,000.

1973 Members of the American Indian Movement occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of Sioux men, women and children. (The occupation lasted until the following May.)

1985 Rand McNally’s Places Rated Almanac listed Pittsburgh as the most livable of the nation’s 329 metropolitan areas.

2003 “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” host Fred Rogers died at 74.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: Actor Joanne Woodward, 91. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, 87. Actor Barbara Babcock, 84. Actor Howard Hesseman, 81. Actor Debra Monk, 72. Rock singer-musician Neal Schon (Journey), 67. Rock musician Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden), 64. Actor Timothy Spall, 64. Rock musician Paul Humphreys (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), 61. Country singer Johnny Van Zant (Van Zant), 61. Rock musician Leon Mobley (Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals), 60. Basketball Hall of Famer James Worthy, 60. Actor Adam Baldwin, 59. Actor Grant Show, 59. Actor Noah Emmerich, 56. Actor Donal Logue, 55. R&B singer Chilli (TLC), 50. Rock musician Jeremy Dean (Nine Days), 49. Country-rock musician Shonna Tucker, 43. Chelsea Clinton, 41. Actor Brandon Beemer, 41. Rock musician Cyrus Bolooki (New Found Glory), 41. Rock musician Jake Clemons (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band), 41. R&B singer Bobby V, 41. Singer Josh Groban, 40. Banjoist Noam Pikelny, 40. Rock musician Jared Champion (Cage the Elephant), 38. Actor Kate Mara, 38. TV personality Jenni “JWoww” Farley, 35. Actor Lindsey Morgan, 31.

Thought for today: “All that is human must be retrograde if it does not advance.”

— Edward Gibbon, English historian (1737-1794)