History Happened Today

On May 13, 1917, three children in Portugal reported seeing a mysterious apparition in a field near Fátima.

On May 12, 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a historic match.

May 11 marks the end of one of the most significant international crises of the late 20th century.

May 10 marks the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and a turning point in American expansion.

On May 9, 1947, a shepherd searching for a lost goat accidentally discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls.

On May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day marked the end of WWII in Europe—but fighting continued elsewhere.

On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine, killing nearly 1,200 people.

On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg airship burst into flames in New Jersey, ending the era of airship travel.

On May 5, 1863, the modern roller skate was patented, changing recreational movement forever.

On May 4, 1980, British special forces ended the Iranian Embassy siege in London during a dramatic live broadcast.

On May 3, 1865, James Clerk Maxwell predicted electromagnetic waves—laying the groundwork for modern wireless communication.

On May 2, 1856, tensions over slavery boiled over into violence in the U.S. Senate.

On May 1, 1886, workers across the U.S. went on strike to demand an eight-hour workday.

On April 30, 1960, Israeli agents captured Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. This episode explores one of the most daring intelligence operations in history.

On April 29, 1876, chunks of meat fell from the sky in Kentucky. This episode explores one of the strangest events in American history.

On April 28, 1789, a mutiny left Captain William Bligh stranded at sea—leading to one of the greatest survival journeys in history.

On April 27, 2001, a French prisoner escaped using a hijacked helicopter. This episode explores one of the most daring prison breaks ever.

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster released radiation across Europe. This episode explores the event and its lasting impact.

On April 25, 1954, the largest medical field trial in history began, testing the polio vaccine.

On April 24, 1958, the U.S. called off the search for a nuclear bomb lost off the coast of Georgia.

On April 17, 1933, the U.S. moved away from gold currency, leading to one of the rarest coins in history.

On April 16, 1860, the first human voice was recorded—though it wouldn’t be heard for nearly 150 years.

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic, killing over 1,500 people. This episode explores the disaster that changed maritime safety.

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre. This episode explores the night that changed American history.

On April 10, 1910, Earth passed through the tail of Halley’s Comet and people feared it would release poison gas. This episode explores the global panic that followed.

On April 9, 1877, one of the first long-distance telephone calls was successfully completed. This episode explores how it changed communication forever.

On April 8, 1993, the “Got Milk?” campaign launched and became one of the most iconic ads in history.

On April 7, 1795, France adopted the metric system, changing how the world measures everything.

On April 6, 1917, the United States entered World War I. This episode explores the events that led to that decision.

On April 3, 1936, Jesse Owens received advice from a competitor that helped shape one of the greatest Olympic performances in history.

On April 2, 1792, Samuel Morse was born. This episode explores how his invention transformed communication forever.

On April 1, 1957, the BBC aired a segment about spaghetti growing on trees—and viewers believed it. This episode explores one of the most famous pranks in media history.

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris. This episode explores how a widely criticized structure became an icon.

On March 27, 1829, President John Quincy Adams reportedly kept an alligator in the White House. This episode explores one of the strangest presidential stories.   ***Note: This story is widely told in presidential lore, but documentation is anecdotal, not airtight. It's a fun story though.

On March 26, 1906, the Kellogg Company was founded after an accidental food discovery. This episode explores how corn flakes were created.

On March 25, 1911, a factory fire in New York killed 146 workers and changed labor laws forever.

On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska, causing one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history.

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history. This episode explores how words helped ignite a revolution.

On March 20, 1804, a London court tried one of the strangest cases in legal history after a man shot someone he believed was a ghost.

On March 19, 1607, pirates kidnapped a powerful cardinal, prompting a response from the pope and the Knights of Malta. This episode explores a dramatic chapter in the history of Mediterranean piracy.

On March 18, 1964, the Mona Lisa arrived in the United States for a historic museum tour. This episode explores how a single painting captivated millions.

On March 17, 1954, fishermen in Japan discovered their tuna catch was radioactive after a U.S. hydrogen bomb test. This episode explores the Lucky Dragon incident.

On March 16, 1953, a cracked nickel revealed a hidden microfilm message and launched one of the FBI’s strangest Cold War investigations.

On March 13, 897, the body of a former pope was dug up and placed on trial in Rome. This episode explores the bizarre Cadaver Synod.    

A group of marching soldiers accidentally discovered a dangerous engineering phenomenon. Discover the story behind the Broughton Bridge collapse.

A smashed window, a stolen masterpiece, and a note mocking museum security. Discover the strange story behind the theft of The Scream.

On March 10, 1814, a London brewery vat exploded, unleashing more than 300,000 gallons of beer into the streets. This episode explores one of the strangest disasters in history.

On March 9, 1988, the U.S. banned lawn darts after years of injuries. This episode explores how a backyard game became a national safety issue.

On March 6, 1966, the U.S. recovered a nuclear bomb it had accidentally dropped on Spain. This episode explores one of the Cold War’s most shocking mistakes.

On March 5, 1954, birds began falling from the sky in Texas. The cause? Fermented berries. This episode explores one of history’s strangest wildlife incidents.