Search Historical Events

1925

The first modern performance of Claudio Monteverdi's opera Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria occurred in Paris

The first modern performance of Claudio Monteverdi's opera Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria occurred in Paris.

1842

The first major wagon train heading for the Pacific Northwest sets out on the Oregon Trail from Elm Grove, Missouri, wit

The first major wagon train heading for the Pacific Northwest sets out on the Oregon Trail from Elm Grove, Missouri, with 100 pioneers.

1204

Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire

Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire.

1961

Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost

Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost contact with Earth a month earlier and did not send back any data).

1883

Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska

Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska.

1445

John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo

John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo.

2011

Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post

Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post.

1990

The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania

The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania.

1983

First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by a team of French scienti

First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by a team of French scientists including Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Jean-Claude Chermann, and Luc Montagnier�

1956

In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

1948

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wins the 1948 Republic of China presidential election and is sworn in as the first Preside

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wins the 1948 Republic of China presidential election and is sworn in as the first President of the Republic of China at Nanjing.

1940

The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz

The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz.

1891

History of cinema: The first public display of Thomas Edison's prototype kinetoscope

History of cinema: The first public display of Thomas Edison's prototype kinetoscope.

1714

Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata for Pentecost, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172, at the

Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata for Pentecost, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172, at the chapel of Schloss Weimar.

1609

Shakespeare's sonnets are first published in London, perhaps illicitly, by the publisher Thomas Thorpe

Shakespeare's sonnets are first published in London, perhaps illicitly, by the publisher Thomas Thorpe.

1570

Cartographer Abraham Ortelius issues Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas

Cartographer Abraham Ortelius issues Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas.

1977

Nolan Bushnell opens the first Chuck E

Nolan Bushnell opens the first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (later renamed Chuck E. Cheese) in San Jose, California.

1859

Members of the Melbourne Football Club codify the first rules of Australian rules football

Members of the Melbourne Football Club codify the first rules of Australian rules football.

1937

A Soviet station, North Pole-1, becomes the first scientific research settlement to operate on the drift ice of the Arct

A Soviet station, North Pole-1, becomes the first scientific research settlement to operate on the drift ice of the Arctic Ocean.

1934

Oskaloosa, Iowa, becomes the first municipality in the United States to fingerprint all of its citizens

Oskaloosa, Iowa, becomes the first municipality in the United States to fingerprint all of its citizens.