On This Day in History

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Events, birthdays and milestones for any date — sourced from Wikipedia.

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A new history article is published every day covering one significant event from the past. Each post explores the causes, key figures, immediate impact, and the legacy that still resonates in the world today.

How Did the 1991 Soviet Coup Attempt Unfold?
August 21, 2026

How Did the 1991 Soviet Coup Attempt Unfold?

The 1991 Soviet coup attempt collapsed on August 21 after two days of resistance led by Boris Yeltsin and civilian protesters in Moscow.

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How Did the First Air Flight 6560 Unfold?
August 20, 2026

How Did the First Air Flight 6560 Unfold?

First Air Flight 6560 crashed near Resolute Bay, killing 12. Canadian Armed Forces on Operation Nanook exercise assisted in the rescue of three survivors.

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How Did Syncom 3 Enable Live 1964 Tokyo Olympics?
August 19, 2026

How Did Syncom 3 Enable Live 1964 Tokyo Olympics?

Syncom 3 launched in 1964 as the first geostationary satellite. It enabled live TV coverage of the Tokyo Olympics to the US and Europe.

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How Did the 1949 Kemi Strike Unfold?
August 18, 2026

How Did the 1949 Kemi Strike Unfold?

The 1949 Kemi strike began on July 1, 1949, when workers of Kemi Oy in Northern Finland protested a government demand to cut lumber wages by more than…

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How Did the Strathfield Massacre Unfold?
August 17, 2026

How Did the Strathfield Massacre Unfold?

Taxi driver Wade Frankum killed seven people and injured six others in a shooting rampage at Strathfield Plaza in Sydney before committing suicide.

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How did Ub Iwerks create the first color sound cartoon?
August 16, 2026

How did Ub Iwerks create the first color sound cartoon?

On August 16, 1930, Ub Iwerks released Fiddlesticks, the first color sound cartoon.

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How Did the August 2013 Beirut Bombing Unfold?
August 15, 2026

How Did the August 2013 Beirut Bombing Unfold?

At least 27 people killed and 226 injured in a car bomb explosion near a Hezbollah complex in southern Beirut, Lebanon in 2013, amid sectarian tensions…

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How Did the Haitian Revolution Unfold?
August 14, 2026

How Did the Haitian Revolution Unfold?

On August 14, 1791, enslaved people from Saint-Domingue plantations gathered at Bois Caïman for a Vodou ceremony led by Dutty Boukman.

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How Did the 1991 Soviet Coup Attempt Unfold?

How Did the 1991 Soviet Coup Attempt Unfold?

The 1991 Soviet coup attempt collapsed on August 21 after two days of resistance led by Boris Yeltsin and civilian protesters in Moscow.

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Donald Dewar, born on this day

Donald Dewar

Donald Campbell Dewar was a Scottish statesman and politician who served as the first first minister of Scotland from 1999 until his death in 2000 and leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 1998 until his death in 2000.

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Giuseppe Meazza, died on this day

Giuseppe Meazza

Giuseppe Meazza was an Italian football manager and player. Throughout his career, he played mainly for Inter Milan in the 1930s, scoring 284 goals in 408 games for the club, and winning three Serie A titles, as well as the Coppa Italia; he later also played…

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History in 60 Seconds

Short videos covering one significant historical event each, told through archival imagery and narration. A new video goes up every day alongside the daily article.

How Did the 1991 Soviet Coup Attempt Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the 1991 Soviet Coup Attempt Unfold?

The 1991 Soviet coup attempt collapsed on August 21 after two days of resistance led by...

Watch
How Did the First Air Flight 6560 Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the First Air Flight 6560 Unfold?

First Air Flight 6560 crashed near Resolute Bay, killing 12. Canadian Armed Forces on O...

Watch
How Did the 1949 Kemi Strike Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the 1949 Kemi Strike Unfold?

The 1949 Kemi strike began on July 1, 1949, when workers of Kemi Oy in Northern Finland...

Watch
How Did the Strathfield Massacre Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the Strathfield Massacre Unfold?

Taxi driver Wade Frankum killed seven people and injured six others in a shooting rampa...

Watch
How did Ub Iwerks create the first color sound cartoon?
YouTube Shorts

How did Ub Iwerks create the first color sound cartoon?

On August 16, 1930, Ub Iwerks released Fiddlesticks, the first color sound cartoon.

Watch
How Did the Haitian Revolution Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the Haitian Revolution Unfold?

On August 14, 1791, enslaved people from Saint-Domingue plantations gathered at Bois Ca...

Watch
How Did the Battle Of Lewisham Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the Battle Of Lewisham Unfold?

Background In the mid-1970s, New Cross and surrounding areas of South London became the...

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How Did the Marikana Massacre Unfold?
YouTube Shorts

How Did the Marikana Massacre Unfold?

The Marikana massacre began near Rustenburg, South Africa, as a six-week wildcat strike...

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Click any date on the calendar to browse historical events, famous birthdays, and notable deaths from that day. Move between months to explore thousands of years of recorded history.

August

On This Day, August 21

  • 2017: A solar eclipse traverses the continental United States.
  • 2013: Hundreds of people are reported killed by chemical attacks in the Ghouta region of Syria.
  • 2000: American golfer Tiger Woods wins the 82nd PGA Championship and becomes the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in a calendar year.
  • 1995: Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529, an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, attempts to divert to West Georgia Regional Airport after the left engine fails, but the aircraft crashes in Carroll County near Carrollton, Georgia, killing nine of the 29 people on board.
  • 1994: Royal Air Maroc Flight 630 crashes in Douar Izounine, Morocco, killing all 44 people on board.

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