By The Associated Press

Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 2, the 33rd day of 2021. There are 332 days left in the year.

Todayís Highlight in History:

On Feb. 2, 1990, in a dramatic concession to South Africaís Black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.

On this date:

In 1653, New Amsterdam — now New York City — was incorporated.

In 1876, the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in New York.

In 1913, New York Cityís rebuilt Grand Central Terminal officially opened to the public at one minute past midnight.

In 1914, Charles Chaplin made his movie debut as the comedy short ìMaking a Livingî was released by Keystone Film Co.

In 1922, the James Joyce novel ìUlyssesî was published in Paris on Joyceís 40th birthday.

In 1925, the legendary Alaska Serum Run ended as the last of a series of dog mushers brought a life-saving treatment to Nome, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic, six days after the drug left Nenana.