A pocket-sized time machine

What was the world likethe day you were born?

First — what should we call you? 

Your own piece of history

One ordinary day.
An extraordinary beginning.

The weather outside. The song on the radio. The world before your first memory, rebuilt from real records.

The weather outside

Local temperatures, rain and daylight from historical climate records.

The soundtrack

The U.S. #1 song that week, with a preview to take you back.

The price of everyday life

What bread, gas and a stamp cost in the U.S., then and now.

Your first night sky

The moon phase and planets above your birthplace.

NASA · ERA5 · Billboard · historical price records

Open an example day →

The year archive · 1960–2020

Step back into your era.

Browse all 61 years →

U.S. prices in dollars · Billboard Hot 100 · songs, movies and the news of the year

Before the world knew their names

Their story started somewhere, too.

All 200 famous birthdays →
Some days changed everything. Explore the Moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall and more.

A little birthday curiosity

Start with one question.

11 free ways to discover something about your birthday. No account needed.

For someone who changed your world

Give them their very first day.

A birthday, wedding or new-baby card: their song, your message, and their whole day to explore.

Make a card →

Two lives, side by side

Different days.
A shared story.

You and your partner. A parent and child. See how the world changed between your two beginnings.

Compare your days →

A few things to know

Curiosity,
answered.

How can I see what the world was like the day I was born?

Enter your birth date and city. Bornplace rebuilds that day from public records: the local weather, the #1 song, the moon and planets over your city, and what everyday things cost.

What was the #1 song on the day I was born?

We use the Billboard Hot 100, the U.S. chart, which began in August 1958. You see the song at the top that week and can play a preview. Earlier birthdays don’t have a chart song.

What was the weather on my birthday?

Historical climate records reconstruct the high and low, precipitation and wind for your birthplace. We use NASA POWER from 1981 onward and ERA5 for earlier dates back to 1940, with units matched to the city. Sunrise and sunset are calculated for your location.

What was the moon phase when I was born?

The moon phase and the planets above your city are calculated with astronomical models, so they’re available for every date back to 1900. Adding your birth time makes the sky more exact.

Do I need to know my birth time?

No. Your date and city are enough. The time is optional and only sharpens the sky.

Is Bornplace free?

Yes. Your day opens free, with no account. Optional one-time purchases open the rest of your day with a printable Certificate of Arrival ($1.99), or send someone a birthday, wedding or new-baby card that opens their whole day ($9.99).