Apple becomes the first company to reach $1 trillion in value

It's tough to think of a single household that isn't familiar with Apple Inc. Whether it's MacBooks, iPhones, iPods, iPads, or AirPods, this global powerhouse has cemented itself as one of the most re

Christopher Columbus Sets Sail

When Christopher Columbus — an Italian navigator and explorer — departed on August 3, 1492, he had one ambitious goal: finding a western sea route to the East Indies. The spice trade was enormously pr

Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France, kickstarting WW1

On this day in history, the German Empire launched its invasion of Belgium and France, setting World War I into motion. The conflict would ultimately come to an end in 1918. August 3 holds a significa

National Basketball Association (NBA) is formed

For three years, two rival basketball leagues — the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) — waged a fierce battle over talent and audiences. Then, on August

“A Hard Day’s Night” Tops the Charts

Half a decade after its original release on August 3, 1964, "A Hard Day's Night" climbed back to the pinnacle of the U.S. charts. What made this moment so remarkable? It would be the final time a Beat

Louis Armstrong was Born

Growing up in the tough neighborhoods of New Orleans, Louis Armstrong entered the world on August 4, 1901, and knew hardship from the very start. Yet music called to him early and never let go. So dee

The Birth of Barack Obama

On August 4, 1961, a child named Barack Hussein Obama II came into the world in Honolulu, Hawaii. Nobody at the time could have imagined that this newborn would one day make history as both the 44th P

U.S. President Carter Created the Department of Energy

The date August 4, 1977, stands as a pivotal moment in how the United States chose to grapple with its energy future. That was the day President Jimmy Carter brought the Department of Energy (DOE) int

Battle of Tettenhall

On this day back in 910, the Viking raiders who had been terrorizing England suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Tettenhall. It was, in fact, the last major Viking army to mount a raid on Engl

Newfoundland was Founded

What comes to mind when you think of Newfoundland? Perhaps it's the majestic whales, the vibrant wildlife, the fascinating history, or the remarkable people who call it home. But how did this storied

Cleveland Flips the Switch on the World’s First Electric Traffic Light

It was August 5, 1914, and something happened at the corner of East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, that would reshape urban life as we know it. The world's first electric traffic l

Beatles release single "Yellow Submarine" with "Eleanor Rigby" in UK

Few people realized it at the time, but August 5, 1966, marked a seismic shift in music, culture, and politics. That was the day The Beatles dropped their album Revolver along with the double A-side s

Prime Minister Harold Holt of Australia vanishes while swimming

While swimming near Portsea, Victoria, Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared completely and without warning. An enormous search effort was quickly organized, but after countless hours scou

The Birth of Alfred, Lord Tennyson

On August 6, 1809, in the sleepy village of Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, a baby entered the world who would go on to reshape the landscape of British poetry. Alfred Tennyson — later celebrated as

1st person to be executed by electric chair

As dawn broke on August 6, 1890, Kemmler woke to face an execution unlike any that had come before. He got dressed in a suit without delay, ate breakfast, offered a quiet prayer, and then had his head

First Person Executed by Electric Chair

On August 6, 1890, the state of New York stepped into uncharted territory — it would become the first state to carry out an execution using the electric chair. And William Kemmler, the man strapped in

Hiroshima's Day of Fire

The morning of August 6, 1945, at around 8 a.m., marked a moment from which Hiroshima would never recover. Aboard the U.S. bomber _Enola Gay_, a 9,700-pound atomic weapon known as "Little Boy" was rel

The Ramones last performance

It was August 6, 1996, when punk rock legends the Ramones took the stage at the Palace in Hollywood for the very last time. Their grand finale show on this date served as the official curtain call on

President Washington’s Purple Heart

In the midst of the American Revolution—while the fledgling nation struggled to secure its independence—George Washington took a remarkable step. From his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, General W

Peace Bridge Unites Canada and the USA

On August 7, 1927, two nations came together to honor something remarkable—a full century of peaceful coexistence between the United States and Canada. But this wasn't just an anniversary celebration.

Assyrian Martyrs Day

Every August 7, the Assyrian community around the world pauses to remember one of the darkest chapters in its long history. Assyrian Martyrs Day honors the memory of 3,000 Assyrians who were massacred

Operation Desert Storm Begins

Under the codename Operation Desert Storm, the United States of America spearheaded a major military offensive targeting Iraqi forces. It all began on 2nd August 1990, when President Saddam Hussein or

The Foundation of the Daughters of the American Revolution

On August 8, 1890, Caroline Harrison—wife of President Benjamin Harrison—launched what would become one of the most enduring and controversial women's organizations in American history: the Daughters

USSR established a communist government

* ## When Japan surrendered in World War II, 1945, the Soviet Union moved onto the Korean Peninsula, bringing with it three zones of occupation. North of the 38th Parallel — the dividing line betwee

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, born

On August 8, 1950, the world welcomed Steve Wozniak — computer programmer, inventor, engineer, and philanthropist — in San Jose, CA. Affectionately known as "Woz" to many, he grew up as the son of an

President Richard Nixon announces his resignation

On August 8, 1974, President Richard M Nixon made the dramatic announcement that he would step down from the presidency. The decision came as impeachment loomed over him, driven by his entanglement in

Iraq and Iran Ceasefire

Lasting eight grueling years from 1980 to 1988, the Iran-Iraq War — sometimes referred to as the First Gulf War — stands as one of the most consequential conflicts in Middle Eastern history. The roots

The Beijing Summer Olympics is the most watched sporting event

NBC had every reason to feel confident about broadcasting the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. After all, the Olympics had long proven their ability to captivate massive global audiences across b

Diesel engine patent

On this day in 1898, Rudolf Diesel received a patent for the oil-burning engine he had invented — what we now know simply as the diesel engine. Rather than relying on the mechanics of a steam engine,

Animated character Betty Boop debuts in Max Fleischer's cartoon "Dizzy Dishes"

On August 9, 1930, the world got its first glimpse of Betty Boop in "Dizzy Dishes," complete with her signature heels, garter, and those famously long eyelashes. The Max Fleischer cartoon follows Bimb

2nd Atomic Bomb Dropped in Japan

Just three days after the world witnessed the first-ever use of a nuclear weapon in combat, the United States struck again. On August 9th, 1945, an atomic bomb codenamed "The Fat Man" was released ove

The Resignation of President Nixon

It's hard to overstate just how pivotal August 9, 1974, was for the United States. That single day reshaped the landscape of American politics forever. Richard Milhous Nixon, in an unprecedented act,

The Louvre opens

When the Louvre palace threw open its doors in Paris in 1793, few could have predicted the cultural revolution it would spark. What had started life as a fortress designed to protect Paris gradually t

The Incorporation of the Village of Chicago as a Town

Picturing Chicago as anything other than the sprawling, vibrant metropolis it is today takes real effort. This is, after all, one of the most populous and busiest cities in the United States—a massive

Smithsonian Institution established

What stands out about the Smithsonian Institution? It holds the distinction of being the world's largest museum complex. Its creation, however, was far from swift. More than a decade of back-and-forth

ABC Becomes a Network Television Station

ABC launched its very first television station in New York on August 10, 1948, marking a pivotal moment in broadcast history. Known formally as the American Broadcasting System, ABC now operates as th

The Opening of the First Roller Skating Rink

It all began on a balmy summer afternoon in Newport, Rhode Island—though not on a street or a boardwalk, but inside the former dining room of the stately Atlantic House Hotel. On August 11, 1866, some

Babe Ruth Hit His 500th Homerun

Known by unforgettable nicknames like "the Bambino" and "Sultan of the Swat," Babe Ruth embodied a level of hitting greatness that seemed almost mythical. On August 11, 1929, he launched his 500th hom

Robin Williams Died

On August 11, 2014, the world lost Robin Williams — a brilliantly gifted performer whose passing left an enormous void in the entertainment world. Celebrated for unforgettable roles in films like Good

Battle of Ottoman

The Ottoman Empire approached Venice, Italy with a proposal for an alliance back in 1479, but Venice turned it down. Following this rejection, Mehmed II, who held power as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Isaac Singer patents his sewing machine

On August 12, 1851, Isaac Singer secured a patent for his sewing machine — a device born from years of refinement that would quickly become a staple of the tailoring industry. Singer didn't stop there

Henry Ford's company builds the first Model T car

On August 12, 1908, the first Model T car rolled out of the Henry Ford company. What emerged that day was the culmination of a lengthy and painstaking inventive process — one that would ultimately pro

The United States Set a Minimum Wage

On August 12, 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower put pen to paper on legislation that would reshape the financial reality for countless American workers. With his signature, the federal minimum wage

Annie Oakley's Birthday

Born on August 13, 1860, and passing away on November 3, 1926, the woman the world would come to know as Annie Oakley actually entered life as Phoebe Ann Moses (or Mosey). This remarkable American tar

"Bonnie and Clyde" released

Few couples have achieved the level of infamy that Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker managed to earn. Their legendary crime spree, carried out against the backdrop of the Great Depression, would eventual

The Premiere of South Park

On August 3, 1997, something brash and unapologetic crashed onto Comedy Central, and television hasn't been the same since. The animated series _South Park_ launched with its debut episode, "Cartman G

Michael Phelps Wins Two Gold Medals and Shatters Records in the Beijing Olympics

On this day in history, August 13, 2008, Michael Phelps of the United States pulled off something truly extraordinary at the Beijing Olympics — claiming two gold medals in less than an hour while demo

The Official Completion of the Appalachian Trail

What began as little more than a visionary idea transformed into something extraordinary on August 14, 1937. After years of grueling effort and over 2,000 miles of trails stitched together, the Appala

BBC launches the 1st feature film

V-J Day, end WWII

On August 14, 1945, word spread that Japan had accepted defeat, bringing World War II to a close — and the world erupted in jubilation. In Times Square, enormous crowds gathered in a frenzy of relief

Pakistan Gained Independence

Britain had maintained control over the region known as British India since 1858, and their governance was far from smooth — it fueled religious tensions between Muslims and Hindus and stoked growing

The Introduction of Crisco

In the opening years of the twentieth century, Procter & Gamble set out with a specific goal: producing a hardened soap using vegetable fats. The end result, though, turned out to be something far mor

The Opening of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair

The United States during the 1960s was defined by upheaval, as political turmoil and social conflict swept across the nation. Growing outrage over the Vietnam War and domestic violence fueled widespre

Omagh Bombing

The single most devastating attack throughout the three decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland took place on August 15, 1998, when the Real Irish Republican Army detonated a bomb in Omagh. This h

Omagh Bombing in Ireland

A devastating blast tore through the heart of Omagh in Northern Ireland on August 15, 1998. At 3:10 p.m., a 500-pound car bomb went off in a crowded shopping center, claiming 29 lives and leaving more

Discovery Ignites the Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon

It all started on August 16, 1896, when gold was found for the first time in the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada. American George Carmack, along with Tagish First Nation members "Skookum" Jim Mason a

The First Publication of Sports Illustrated

A brand-new magazine hit newsstands on August 16, 1954, and it would go on to reshape how Americans consumed sports coverage. _Sports Illustrated_ certainly wasn't the first publication dedicated to a

John White returns from England

Joe Pulitzer Donates to Columbia University to Start the Pulitzer Prize

It was on August 17, 1903, that Joseph Pulitzer made a transformative gift of $2,000,000 to Columbia University. A lifelong newspaper publisher and journalist, Pulitzer was driven by a deep desire to

Sean Penn, born

On August 17, 1960, in Santa Monica, California, a future award-winning star entered the world — though nobody could have known it at the time. With both parents deeply rooted in theatre and acting, S

The Berlin Wall Rises

Just four days after East German forces first unfurled barbed wire across the heart of Berlin, what had seemed like a temporary provocation was hardening into something far more permanent. The early h

Anti-Cigarette League is Formed in Chicago

Chicago became the birthplace of something remarkable on August 18th, 1919, when the Anti-Cigarette League was officially established in Illinois's largest city — a pivotal moment in the broader campa

The First Televised Weather Map

On August 18, 1926, something remarkable happened — and almost nobody noticed. A simple sheet covered in pale blue-green lines quietly ushered in a new era. It wasn't dramatic or designed for public c

The Invention of the Root Beer Float

Ever enjoyed that magical combination of frothy root beer and a big dollop of vanilla ice cream? Then you owe a debt of gratitude to Frank J. Wisner, a creative entrepreneur who dreamed up the very fi

Romania annexes the Transnistria territory from the Soviet Union after Operation Barbarossa

Most people in the West tend to think of Operation Barbarossa as a purely German military campaign against the Soviet Union. That picture, though, is far from complete. Nazi Germany didn't go it alone

Bill Clinton was Born

The 42nd president of the United States came into the world on August 19th, 1946. Born and raised in Hope, Arkansas, William "Bill" Clinton would go on to attend Georgetown University and Yale Law Sch

Slavery Begins in British America

One of the most harrowing episodes in American history was set into motion on August 20th, 1619, when "twenty and odd" enslaved individuals arrived on the shores of British America. These captives, wh

The Mosquito Revelation

On August 20, 1897, working in a humble laboratory in Secunderabad, India, a British physician by the name of Ronald Ross peered into his microscope—and what stared back at him would reshape our under

The Patent for Venetian Blinds

On August 21, 1841, John Hampson of New Orleans, Louisiana, received U.S. Patent No. 2,223 for a clever improvement to the design of Venetian blinds. What might sound like a minor tweak was actually a

The Foundation of the American Bar Association

On August 21, 1878, something happened that would reshape the American legal landscape for generations to come. Seventy-five lawyers, representing twenty states and the District of Columbia, convened

The "Mona Lisa" is stolen

An Italian museum worker by trade, Vincenzo Peruggia would become one of history's most notorious art thieves thanks to a single audacious act: on August 21, 1911, he walked off with the Mona Lisa. Ac

Hawaii Becomes the 50th State

Much like England, Hawaii was once a land governed by royalty — but its trajectory took a dramatic turn on August 21, 1959. That was the day Hawaii earned its place as the 50th state in the United Sta

Loch Ness monster reported

Cryptid enthusiasts around the globe know it simply as "Nessie," and The Loch Ness Monster continues to captivate those who track and document each new sighting. Situated in the Inverness region — hom

First Geneva Convention

The Geneva Conventions are widely recognized today as one of humanity's most important responses to the brutality of armed conflict. These landmark treaties establish the rules by which nations wage w

Roosevelt Rides in an Electric Car

On August 22, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt etched his name into the record books by becoming the first sitting president to take a public automobile ride. The momentous occasion unfolded on the

Babe Ruth hits 40th home run

What a day it was on August 22, 1927 — Babe Ruth, the Yankees' larger-than-life slugger, launched his 40th home run of the season, adding yet another chapter to a career that would forever define base

Mount Vesuvius stirs, gearing up for the great Pompeii disaster

Situated along the Gulf of Naples, Mount Vesuvius stands as one of history's most infamous active volcanoes. Despite erupting on numerous occasions, the region surrounding it has attracted dense settl

Eunice Foote's Global Warming Findings

Back on August 23, 1856, something remarkable happened at the American Association for the Advancement of Science gathering in Albany, New York—a scientific finding was unveiled that wouldn't be fully

The Battle of Stalingrad: Turning Point of WWII

By early 1942, the global outlook was grim. Across Europe, Nazi forces and their allies had swept through enormous stretches of territory, appearing nearly impossible to stop. Germany's military machi

British Invasion of Washington D.C.

On this day in history, August 24, 1814, British forces marched into Washington D.C. and set the Capitol ablaze. The motivations behind the assault were numerous. Capturing an enemy nation's capital d

Thomas Edison patents motion picture camera

What a landmark moment in the history of entertainment: on August 24th, 1891, Thomas Edison received a patent for his groundbreaking creation, the Kinetograph. This revolutionary motion picture camera

Hurricane Andrew Strikes Florida

Few events in modern weather history jolted South Florida quite like the arrival of Hurricane Andrew. Compact yet terrifyingly powerful, this Category 5 storm slammed into the coast on August 24, 1992

Captain Matthew Webb Swims English Channel

On this day in history, a man clad in a red silk swimsuit accomplished something no one ever had before. On August 24, 1875, Captain Matthew Webb—a 27-year-old merchant navy officer hailing from Shrop

Shibasaburo Kitasato publishes The Lancet

For nearly two centuries, The Lancet has served as a vital conduit for peer-reviewed medical news, discoveries, and data, reaching both the medical and scientific communities. Through journals like th

Linux is Born

What started as a casual post on an online forum would go on to reshape the entire technology landscape. On August 25, 1991, Linus Torvalds, just 21 years old at the time, shared something remarkable

Hurricane Katrina begins in the Bahamas

Before a hurricane earns its fearsome reputation, it starts life as something far less dramatic — a tropical depression. These low-atmosphere disturbances feature thunderstorm clouds rotating counter-

The First Free Kindergarten Opens in St. Louis Missouri

On August 26, 1873, Susan Blow made educational history by launching the first free Kindergarten in St. Louis, Missouri. Her pioneering classroom quickly became a blueprint for early childhood educati

The Birth of American Inventor, Lee de Forest

On this day, we mark the arrival into the world of someone whose contributions fundamentally shaped the dawn of the Electronic Age. Born on August 26, 1873, in a small town in Iowa, Lee de Forest woul

Harry Houdini escapes from chains underwater

From a young age, Erik Weisz — a Hungarian-born magician — found himself captivated by the world of magic. He first made a name for himself in the United States on the vaudeville circuit. It was durin

Bobby Orr Signed First Million Dollar Contract in NFL History

It's hard to imagine anyone batting an eye at a million-dollar NHL contract these days. But rewind to 1971, and the story was entirely different. Player salaries in professional hockey lagged far behi

Krakatoa Volcano Erupts

When Krakatoa — a volcanic island situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia — violently exploded on August 27, 1883, it did so with a ferocity the modern world had never witne

Britain defeats Zanzibar in the shortest war ever fought (38 minutes long)

What happens when a global empire squares off against a small island sultanate? In 1896, the answer came in just 38 minutes. The Anglo-Zanzibar Military conflict between the UK and Zanzibar Sultanate

The Day Television Crossed the Channel

Broadcasting history was rewritten on an August evening in 1950. On August 27, the BBC accomplished something that would have sounded like pure fantasy just a few years earlier: live television images

Pee-wee Herman born in Peekskill, New York

Paul Reubens came into the world on August 27- 1952, in Peekskill, New York, though he would eventually become a household name through his legendary comedic persona, Pee-Wee Herman, most memorably sh

The Birth of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

On August 28, 1749, in Frankfurt—then situated within the Holy Roman Empire—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe entered the world. From that moment, literature would never be the same. Goethe didn't merely con

The First Issue of Scientific American was Published

It all began on a Thursday morning — August 28, 1845 — when a modest, four-page publication hit the streets of New York City for the very first time. That publication was _Scientific American_, and th

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I have a dream" speech

It was August 28, 1963, when Martin Luther King, Jr. stood before a massive gathering of over 250,000 people and delivered what would become the defining moment of his legacy — the iconic "I have a dr

Martin Luther King Jr. gives his "I Have a Dream" speech

On August 28, 1963, Luther delivered a powerful address at the Lincoln Memorial, aiming to bring an end to racial segregation in the US. The speech generated both controversy and remarkable progress w

Bob Dylan Booed in Queens

On August 28, 1965, something remarkable unfolded at the Newport Folk Festival in Queens, New York — the legendary folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan walked onstage carrying an electric guitar, and the

The last Sapa Inca Emperor is killed

* ## Originally, the Spanish had sentenced Atahualpa to death by burning alive. However, they reconsidered and presented him with an alternative: if he agreed to convert to Christianity, he would in

USSR Performs First Nuclear Bomb Test

On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union secretly set off its first nuclear device at a test site located in Kazakhstan. While Stalin and the rest of the Soviet political leadership were understandably th

Cliff Richard and the Drifters Released "Move It"

Rock and roll was exploding across the United States during the late 1950s, fueled by trailblazers like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, whose electrifying performances whipped teenage fans into absolut

European Leaders Outlaw the Crossbow

A landmark decision unfolded on August 30, 1146, when European leaders took the extraordinary step of banning the crossbow. At the heart of this decree stood Pope Innocent II, one of medieval Europe's

The Birth of Mary Shelley

A waking dream visited a young woman on a stormy night in 1816. She saw a pale scientist kneeling over a creature he had assembled, desperate to coax it into existence. Literature would never be the s

The first time a comet hit the sun

This landmark event — the collision of the Comet Koomen Michels (formerly known as C/1979 Q1) with the Sun — was recorded by a coronagraph aboard the satellite P78-1, commonly referred to as Solwind.

150,000,000th visitor to Eiffel Tower

Few structures on Earth carry the instant recognition of the Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1899 for France's World's Fair. Bearing the name of its designer, Gustave Eiffel, this iconic landmark con

Jack the Ripper's First Victim was Found

In the early hours of August 31, 1888, a grim discovery in Whitechapel, London would set off one of history's most infamous crime sagas. The lifeless body of Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols lay in Buck's Row

Thomas Edison Patents Kinetoscope

Imagine being able to watch a moving picture — but only through a tiny peephole, and only by yourself. That was the experience offered by the Kinetoscope, one of the earliest motion picture devices ev

Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in a car crash in a road tunnel in Paris

When Princess Diana of Wales lost her life on August 31, 1997, the world was left reeling. Recognized globally for her compassion toward the less fortunate and her deep commitment to charitable work,

Ruby Ridge Standoff Ends

The notorious Ruby Ridge standoff reached its conclusion on August 11th, 1992, marking the end of a tense 11-day confrontation between the FBI and Randy Weaver, a self-proclaimed white separatist. Wha