The First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas, took place on July 21, 1861. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War, occurring near Manassas, Virginia. This battle shattered the North’s hopes of winning the war quickly and easily, proving that the conflict would be longer […]
Great Flood Hits Johnstown
On the same date in 1977, the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, experienced a devastating flood when an intense storm led to the failure of the Laurel Run Dam and other local flash flooding. Known as the second major flood to hit the area since 1889, this disaster resulted in the deaths of 84 people and […]
Viking 1 Lands on Mars
Continuing the theme of space exploration, Viking 1 successfully landed on Mars on July 20, 1976. This mission, part of NASA’s Viking program, was the first U.S. mission to land a spacecraft safely on the surface of Mars and return images of the surface. The primary objectives of the Viking missions were to obtain high-resolution […]
Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon, famously declaring, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” This moment occurred during the Apollo 11 mission, an event watched by millions around the globe and marking a watershed in the space race between […]
America Bombs Rome
On July 19, 1943, in one of the more controversial actions of World War II, Allied forces led by the United States conducted a bombing raid on Rome, targeting military and industrial locations within the then-fascist capital. This was the first of several raids aimed at crippling fascist infrastructure but spared some culturally and historically […]
Seneca Falls Convention Begins
The Seneca Falls Convention, which commenced on July 19, 1848, in Seneca Falls, New York, was a watershed moment in the history of the United States. This groundbreaking gathering was orchestrated by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, two influential abolitionists and activists who sought to address the systemic inequalities faced by women. Their efforts […]
Rosetta Stone Found
On July 19, 1799, the Rosetta Stone was discovered by French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt. This granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued in Memphis, Egypt, in 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty became one of the most famous artifacts in archaeology. The text is written in three scripts: hieroglyphic, Demotic, […]
Video of Titanic Wreckage Released
The first detailed video footage of the Titanic wreckage released on July 18, 1986, captured the public’s imagination and brought a sense of closure to one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. The footage was taken by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named Jason Jr., which was deployed from the research vessel Knorr. The images […]
FDR Nominated for Unprecedented Third Term
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s nomination for an unprecedented third term as U.S. President on July 18, 1940, marked a pivotal moment in American political history. The Democratic Party’s decision to nominate him broke a longstanding tradition established by George Washington, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms. This move came at a critical juncture as Europe […]
Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” is Published
“Mein Kampf” was written by Adolf Hitler during his imprisonment in Landsberg Prison, following the failed Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923. This attempted coup aimed to overthrow the Weimar Republic and establish a new government based on nationalist and fascist principles. Hitler’s incarceration provided him with the time and motivation to articulate his beliefs […]