History: What Happened Today?

1. In 1620, The Mayflower set sail from Southampton, England with 102 Pilgrims.
2. In 1848, M. Waldo Hanchett patents the dental chair.
3. In 1911, Procter & Gamble unveils Crisco vegetable shortening.
4. In 1914, The Panama Canal is opened.
5. In 1939, "The Wizard of Oz" premiered in Hollywood at Grauman's Chinese Theater.
6. In 1945, U.S. wartime rationing of gasoline and fuel oil ends.
7. In 1960, the Congo declares its independence from France.
8. In 1961, construction begins on The Berlin Wall.
9. In 1969, The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York and was attended by over 500,000 people.
10. In 1974, the longest team of 6 trampoline bouncing marathon takes place, lasting 1,248 hours = 52 days!
11. Famous Birthdays: Ethel Barrymore (actress), Napoleon Bonaparte (French emperor), Sir Walter Scott (Scottish writer), Edna Ferber (American writer), Stephen Breyer (U.S. Supreme Court Justice), Joe Jonas (rock singer)

For famous birthdays and other daily events in history, visit our Daily Dose Activities.

Click Here for Yesterday in History: August 14

Click Here for Tomorrow in History: August 16

For more history resources on Internet 4 Classrooms, visit our Social Studies and History index. For Pre K-8th Grade Level History and Social Studies Resources, visit our Grade Level Index.