Notable August Holidays, Events, and Celebrations
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August is:
National Inventor's Month - Lots of people throughout history have invented things. For example, we may not have phones if it was not for Alexander Graham Bell. Everything you see and touch, from your pencil to the car you ride in, was invented by someone.
August 1st - The Start of World War One - On August 1, 1914 Russia and Germany declared war against one another. A few days earlier that same year, Austria and Serbia had declared war against each other, on July 28, 1914. By the time World War One ended, 32 countries were at war.
August 2nd - The First United States Census - With a population 3, 900, 000 the first U.S. Census was taken on August 2, 1790. To learn more about the U.S. Census and why it's important, check out this website.
August 4th - Anne Frank is Captured - On August 14, 1944 Anne Frank and her family were discovered hiding in a warehouse in a secret annex in Amsterdam. They were captured by the German Gestapo.
August 6th - The Atomic Bomb is Dropped on Hiroshima Japan - In an attempt to end World War Two in the Pacific region on August 6, 1945, the United States used the U.S. bomber Enola Gay to drop a five ton atomic bomb on the city. The bomb destroyed the city and killed about 75, 000 people and injured roughly another 70, 000 people. To learn more about the decision to drop the bomb and other information, click this link.
August 6th - Dr. Alexander Fleming's Birthday - Dr. Fleming was a Scottish doctor and bacteriologist. He discovered the medication penicillin and is credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives. He was born on August 6, 1881.
August 8th - President Richard Nixon Resigns - On August 8, 1974, former president Richard Nixon announced that he was resigning as president of the United States. He decided to resign after Congress stopped supporting him in his involvement in the Watergate Scandal.
August 9th - An Atomic Bomb was Dropped on Nagasaki, Japan - On August 9, 1945 a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki, Japan, in an attempt to end the war.
August 10th - Missouri becomes a State - On August 10, 1821 Missouri was admitted to the union, making them the 24th state.
August 10th - The Smithsonian Institute - On August 10, 1846 President Polk signed the Smithsonian Institution Act into law. Today the Smithsonian is the world's largest museum complex.
August 13th - The Berlin Wall was Erected - On August 13, 1961 East Germany built a wall to prevent the refugees from trying to get west. The wall was a symbol of the Cold War.
August 14th - Japan Surrenders: World War Two - On August 14, 1945 an announcement was made by Japan to surrender unconditionally to the allies.
August 15th - The Transcontinental Railway is Finished - On August 15, 1870 the last link in the railway was made at Strasburg, Colorado.
August 15th - The Panama Canal Opened - On August 15, 1914 the man-made Panama Canal opened for traffic.
August 17th - The Fulton Steamboat Sets Sail - On August 17, 1807 the Clermont started on it's first trip up the Hudson River. It steamed from New York City to Albany, New York.
August 17th - The Klondike Gold Rush - On August 17, 1896 gold was found by prospectors in the Yukon Territory of Canada. A gold rush was set into motion that brought thousands of people to the area in search of their own gold.
August 18th - The 19th Amendment is Ratified - On August 18, 1920 the 19th amendment was ratified and gave women the right to vote. This was a big day in American history.
August 19th- Aviation Day - A presidential proclamation that started on August 19, 1939 celebrates the birthday of the first pilot, Orville Wright.
August 19th - William Clinton's Birthday - Former 42nd President of the United States, William J. Clinton (Bill) was born on August 19, 1946.
August 21st - Hawaii becomes a State - On August 21, 1959 Hawaii became a state, it was the 50th state admitted to the union.
August 24th - Mount Vesuvius Erupts - On August 24, 79 A.D., a volcano in southern Italy called Vesuvius erupted, demolishing Pompeii.
August 27th - Mother Teresa's Birthday - The Catholic nun called Mother Teresa was born on August 27, 1910. She started the order, "The Missionaries of Charity." The order took care of the people that no one else would care for.
August 28th - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gives "I Have a Dream" Speech - More than 200, 000 people gathered around the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to hear the civil rights activist deliver what has become one of the most famous speeches in history on August 28, 1963.
August 29th - The Amistad is Seized - On August 29, 1839 a group of slaves that were being transported took over the ship. The ship was a Spanish merchant ship and the slaves they were brining to American were of African decent and it was illegal to bring African black people to America.