July 30

On July 30, 1502, Christopher Columbus made landfall on the island of Guanaja in the Bay Islands, present-day Honduras, during his fourth and final voyage. Sailing under the Spanish crown, Columbus sought new routes to Asia but explored the Caribbean coastline instead. The expedition spent several days on Guanaja repairing ships and interacting with the local indigenous inhabitants. Columbus described the area’s dense jungles, rich flora, and friendly natives in his logs. Although unable to find the fabled gold, he gathered information about Central American societies and geography. This voyage marked the last time Columbus would reach the American mainland. Guanaja later became a key waypoint in Spanish colonial navigation and trade.

On July 30, 1975, Jimmy Hoffa, former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, disappeared from the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Despite extensive investigations and numerous tips, his fate remains one of the most enduring mysteries in American history. Hoffa had once been one of the most powerful labor leaders, wielding significant influence in politics and industry. His disappearance fueled decades of speculation involving organized crime, corrupt officials, and clandestine dealings. Law enforcement agencies conducted searches and interviews but never found definitive evidence of what happened to him. The unsolved case has inspired books, films, and ongoing public fascination. Hoffa was declared legally dead in 1982, but questions about his final moments persist to this day.