Castro's Cuba (Jan. 1): Led by a fiery 32-year-old lawyer named Fidel Castro, rebels known as "the bearded ones" seize power in Cuba after two years of civil war. Dictator Fulgencio Batista resigns after seven years in power and flees to Miami. Upon hearing that the new rulers will honor international agreements, the United States recognizes the government within days. But the honeymoon will be very short-lived. Castro assumes the title of premier Feb. 16, pledging to restore the Cuban economy, refurbish democracy and oppose dictatorships in Latin America.

State No. 49 (Jan. 3): Alaska is admitted to the Union as the 49th state.

	Holly

Day the Music Died (Feb 3): A four-seater plane carrying touring performers Ritchie Valens, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Buddy Holly takes off after 1 a.m en route to Fargo, N.D. But only a few miles from the airport, it plunges into a snow-covered cornfield in Iowa, killing all aboard. The trio becomes rock 'n' roll music's first martyrs.

Space Crop (April 9): The first seven U.S. astronauts are picked from the ranks of military pilots by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. After vigorous training and testing, one will be selected to become the first American in space in 1961.

Lama on the Lam (March): Tibetans rise up in armed revolt against Chinese rule. Communist forces move quickly to crush the uprising. The Buddhist land's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, flees the Tibetan capital Lhasa and settles in India.

Scandalous Reading (June 11): "Lady Chatterley's Lover," a 1928 novel by D.H. Lawrence, is banned from the mail by Postmaster Gen. Arthur E. Summerfield, who says, "Any literary merit the book may have is far outweighed by the pornographic and smutty passages and words, so that the book, taken as a whole, is an obscene and filthy work." The Postal Service lifts the ban July 21.

50th State (Aug. 21): Hawaii is admitted to the Union as the 50th state. Eisenhower issues an order for a new flag of 50 stars in staggered rows, which will become official July 4, 1960.

Quiz Show Scandal (Nov. 2): The U.S. government begins an investigation of the television quiz show "Twenty-One." Contestant champion Charles Van Dorgen admits having been given answers in advance by the show's producers.