Rocket causes deadly fire on aircraft carrier. A fire on a United States Navy carrier stationed off the coast of Vietnam kills 134 service members on this day in 1967. The deadly fire on the USS Forrestal began with the accidental launch of a rocket. During the Vietnam War, the USS Forrestal was often stationed off the coast of North Vietnam, conducting combat operations.
In 1994, the Liberty Memorial was closed due to structural and material deterioration. The Memorial Tower rises 217 feet above the surrounding observation deck and 268 feet above the north lawn. The cylindrical tower is 36 feet in diameter at its base and 28 feet in diameter at the top. An elevator is located within the shaft that transports visitors to an observation platform at the top.
On top of the Texas state capitol building dome is the Goddess of Liberty, also known as the Old Lady. She is a replica. The original was cast in white bronze, weighs almost 3,000 pounds, and is 15 feet, 7 1/2 inches tall. She has been restored and is on display in the Texas Memorial Museum.