On this day, Nov. 20

1789 New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

1938 After five years in construction, Heinz Chapel, topped by a 235-foot spire, was dedicated on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland as the gift of the Heinz family.

1962 President John F. Kennedy held a news conference in which he announced the end of the naval quarantine of Cuba imposed during the missile crisis, and the signing of an executive order prohibiting discrimination in federal housing facilities.

1984 The Galbreath family, after 38 years of association with the Pirates, decided to sell its 51% interest in the team.

2004 A court-appointed trustee operating the Glenshaw Glass Co. in Shaler ordered the 109-year-old bottle maker to cease production.

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 Estelle Parsons, 94. Comedian Dick Smothers, 83. President Joe Biden, 79. Singer Norman Greenbaum, 79. Actor Veronica Hamel, 78. Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff, 75. Singer-musician Joe Walsh, 74. Actor Richard Masur, 73. Opera singer Barbara Hendricks, 73. Former national security adviser John Bolton, 73. Actor Bo Derek, 65. Former NFL player Mark Gastineau, 65. Reggae musician Jimmy Brown (UB40), 64. Actor Sean Young, 62. Pianist Jim Brickman, 60. Actor and Pittsburgh native Ming-Na, 58. Actor Ned Vaughn, 57. Rapper Mike D (The Beastie Boys), 56. Rapper Sen Dog (Cypress Hill), 56. Actor Joel McHale, 50. Actor Marisa Ryan, 47. Country singer Dierks Bentley, 46. Actor Joshua Gomez, 46. Actor Laura Harris, 45. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Dawes, 45. Country singer Josh Turner, 44. Actor Nadine Velazquez, 43. Actor Jacob Pitts, 42. Actor Andrea Riseborough, 40. Actor Jeremy Jordan, 37. Actor Dan Byrd, 36. Actor Ashley Fink, 35. Rock musician Jared Followill (Kings of Leon), 35. Thought for today: “No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself.” — Thomas Mann, German author

(1875-1955)