Famous days
Days the whole world remembers.
History books tell you what happened. These pages show what else was true that day: the weather outside, the song on the radio and the moon overhead.
- 8 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Crowds filled the streets of London as the war in Europe ended.
London, UK →
- 15 August 1947
India’s first Independence Day
The tricolour rose over a newly independent India.
New Delhi, India →
- 29 May 1953
The first summit of Everest
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stood on top of the world.
Kathmandu, Nepal →
- 2 June 1953
The coronation of Elizabeth II
Millions watched a coronation on television for the first time.
London, UK →
- 4 October 1957
Sputnik goes up
The first artificial satellite began beeping from orbit.
Moscow, Russia →
- 12 April 1961
The first human in space
Yuri Gagarin circled the Earth once and came home a legend.
Moscow, Russia →
- August 28, 1963
The March on Washington
Martin Luther King Jr. told the crowd, “I have a dream.”
Washington, D.C., US →
- February 9, 1964
The Beatles on Ed Sullivan
About 73 million Americans tuned in to the band’s live U.S. debut.
New York, US →
- 30 July 1966
England wins the World Cup
Wembley saw England beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time.
London, UK →
- July 20, 1969
The first footsteps on the Moon
Mission control listened as Apollo 11 touched down.
Houston, US →
- 13 July 1985
Live Aid
A concert at Wembley reached a global television audience.
London, UK →
- 9 November 1989
The Berlin Wall opens
Crowds walked through the checkpoints after 28 years apart.
Berlin, Germany →
- 11 February 1990
Nelson Mandela walks free
After 27 years in prison, he spoke to a crowd in Cape Town.
Cape Town, South Africa →
- 25 December 1991
The Soviet flag comes down
Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, and the flag over the Kremlin was lowered.
Moscow, Russia →
- 1 July 1997
The Hong Kong handover
Britain returned Hong Kong to China after 156 years.
Hong Kong →
- 12 July 1998
France wins its first World Cup
The Champs-Élysées filled with celebration after a 3–0 final.
Paris, France →
- January 1, 2000
The first morning of 2000
The world woke up to a new millennium and working computers.
New York, US →
- January 9, 2007
The iPhone is unveiled
Steve Jobs showed a phone, an iPod and an internet device in one.
San Francisco, US →
- August 5, 2012
Curiosity lands on Mars
Engineers cheered as the rover touched down late that night.
Pasadena, US →
- April 10, 2019
The first picture of a black hole
Astronomers revealed the shadow at the heart of galaxy M87.
Washington, D.C., US →