Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan (right) is injured in an assault as she leaves practice for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The attack is planned by fellow figure skater Tonya Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly with the intent of keeping Kerrigan out of the championship and the upcoming Winter Olympics. Harding (at left) is implicated in the attack, but pleads guilty to a lesser charge.
Over 500,000 ethnic minority Tutsi's are killed in the Rwandan Genocide by members of the Hutu majority during the Rwandan Civil War. The war and genocide, spark a large scale refugee crisis as Tutsi's attempt to flee to safety.
Nelson Mandela becomes president of South Africa following the country’s first fully democratic national election in 1994. After 27 years in prison, he helps lead the transition from apartheid, having shared the previous year’s Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk for their work toward a peaceful change.
Disney’s The Lion King brings Simba’s coming-of-age story to theaters in 1994. Songs by Elton John and Tim Rice help make the animated musical a major family event, with its animal characters and memorable opening sequence reaching an audience well beyond the usual children’s movie crowd. Released June 1994. U.S. box office: No. 2 among 1994 releases.
Pro football player and broadcaster O.J. Simpson is charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. When Simpson fails to turn himself in, he is pursued by Los Angeles police in a low speed chase in a white Ford Bronco that is broadcast live on TV.
The IRA announces a ceasefire in Northern Ireland in August 1994. After years of violence, the declaration creates room for negotiations and cautious hope, although the path from an end to attacks toward a lasting political settlement remains difficult.
IBM shows off a ThinkPad in a Japanese advertisement. The compact black laptop puts a familiar desktop screen into a portable package, with business computing beginning to travel more easily between the office, home and the road.
Cookie Crisp promises breakfast and an X-Men trading card in the same box. The 1994 ad mixes cereal with cartoon heroes, giving kids another reason to study the package while enjoying a bowl.
Teen magazine mixes plaid skirts and dresses with dark tights and sturdy shoes. Layered over simple tops, the clothes borrow a little from school uniforms and a little from alternative music fashion.
A striped slip dress goes over a black T-shirt in this Teen magazine spread. Knee socks and chunky shoes finish a look that is easy to put together, turning simple layers into a distinctly nineties outfit.
Versace brings bright baroque patterns to men’s shirts. Worn open over a bare chest or paired with pale pants, the clothes leave understatement behind and make a bold statement of their own.
Supermodels line up in a playful Versace ad. Cropped sweaters, shiny miniskirts, pastel socks and heels mix sweetness with glamour, giving coordinated clothes the energy of a group of friends getting ready to go out.
Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz star in The Mask. The 1994 comedy turns a timid man into a green-faced whirlwind, mixing live action with cartoon-style effects and giving Carrey another showcase for his elastic expressions and physical humor. Released July 1994. U.S. box office: No. 9 among 1994 releases.
The black comedy crime film Pulp Fiction is released, starring Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson among others. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film is nominated for seven Academy Awards. Released October 1994. U.S. box office: No. 10 among 1994 releases.
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels play two spectacularly misguided friends in Dumb and Dumber. Peter Farrelly’s 1994 comedy sends them on a road trip built around misunderstandings, bad decisions and broad physical jokes, adding another major hit to Carrey’s busy breakthrough year. Released December 1994. U.S. box office: No. 6 among 1994 releases.
Tom Hanks plays a man whose unusual journey crosses decades of American life in Forrest Gump. The 1994 film combines romance, historical cameos and an enduring friendship, becoming a major hit and winning six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Released July 1994. U.S. box office: No. 1 among 1994 releases.
The TV medical drama series E.R. debuts on NBC where it runs until 2009. Created by physician and novelist Michael Crichton, the show is one of the longest running television drama series ever. First broadcast: September 19, 1994.
High school friends ham it up for the camera in New York. Striped shirts, casual layers and broad grins make the photograph feel like a pause in the middle of a much louder conversation.
Children gather around for a birthday celebration. Party hats and bright clothes add to the excitement, with older kids leaning into the picture and younger ones getting a place near the front.
High school students take a break among the rocks at Joshua Tree National Park. Shorts, sneakers and loose layers fit the outing, with the desert landscape providing a change from the classroom.
Pennsylvania high school students crowd into a hallway photograph. Loose shirts, long hair and denim capture the relaxed school-day look, while friends in the background make sure they are part of the picture, too.
Prom dates pause for a photograph before the evening gets under way. Short and long dresses share the occasion with tuxedos and boutonnieres, with everyone looking more polished than on an ordinary school day.
Friends gather around the grill before a Penn State football game. Caps, denim and drinks in hand set an easygoing tone, with the tailgate offering food and conversation before anyone heads into the stadium.
Spring Break gets lively in Galveston, Texas. Friends gather around as a drink is poured for a reclining partygoer, with swimsuits, sunglasses and a crowd close by completing the beach-party scene.