1. On December 29, 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre took place in South Dakota. Though it occurred outside of New York, it had significant repercussions for the state's Native American population as well.

2. On December 29, 1940, actor and comedian Jack Benny broke radio ratings records with his special guest appearance on The Jell-O Program. Benny became a beloved figure in popular culture and continued to entertain audiences for decades.

3. December 29, 1975 saw the release of the film Dog Day Afternoon, which was based on a true story of a failed bank robbery in Brooklyn. The movie earned critical acclaim and several Academy Award nominations.

4. In 1996, the New York Islanders retired the jersey number of Mike Bossy, who had helped lead the team to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s. Bossy remains one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise.

5. On December 29, 2008, New York Governor David Paterson announced that he was appointing Kirsten Gillibrand to the U.S. Senate to replace Hillary Clinton, who had been nominated as Secretary of State. Gillibrand went on to win re-election in 2010 and has become a prominent national figure.