Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.
Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in July 2021 (so you have time to write about them!)
We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2021. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2022 edition is also available.
Jul 1, 1921 – 100 years ago
West Virginia became the first U.S. state to impose a sales tax on purchases.
Jul 2, 1921 – 100 years ago
The world heavyweight boxing championship fight between Jack Dempsey (USA) and George Carpentier (France) was held in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. Named one of the “fights of the century.” It was the first world title fight to be broadcast on the radio (by RCA’s temporary station WJY and Pennsylvania’s KDKA), and the first to generate over $1 million in revenue.
Jul 3, 1971 – 50 years ago
Death of Jim Morrison, American rock singer and songwriter (The Doors).
Jul 4 or 5, 1951 – 70 years ago
American engineer William Shockley announced that he had invented the junction transistor.
Jul 5, 1946 – 75 years ago
The first bikini two-piece swimsuit was unveiled at a fashion show in Paris, France. It was created by French designer Louis Réard.
Jul 6 to Aug 5, 1941 – 80 years ago
World War II – Operation Barbarossa – the Battle of Smolensk. The first major battle during the German invasion of the Soviet Union. German victory which proved costly later as Hitler assumed the operation would end quickly and had not prepared for a winter war.
Jul 7, 1981 – 40 years ago
The first solar-powered airplane, Solar Challenger, successfully flew 160 miles (258 km) from Paris, France to Kent, England.
Jul 8, 1721 – 300 years ago
Death of Elihu Yale, British-American merchant, slave trader, Governor of the British East India Company, and philanthropist. Yale University was named in his honor.
Jul 9, 1981 – 40 years ago
The arcade video game Donkey Kong was released by Nintendo in Japan. (USA: July 31st.)
Jul 10 and 17, 1821 – 200 years ago
The USA took possession of East Florida and West Florida from Spain. They were merged into Florida Territory in 1822. Florida was admitted as a U.S. state in 1845.
Jul 11, 1921 – 100 years ago
Former U.S. President William Howard Taft took office as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the only person to hold both offices.
Jul 12, 1971 – 50 years ago
The Australian Aboriginal Flag was flown for the first time, on National Aborigines Day in Adelaide. It was adopted as one of the official flags of Australia in 1995.
Jul 13, 1871 – 150 years ago
Britain’s first cat show was held at the Crystal Palace in London.
Jul 14, 1946 – 75 years ago
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care by Benjamin Spock was published. It became one of the best-selling books in history.
Jul 15, 1996 – 25 years ago
MSNBC, the 24-hour TV news channel, was launched in the USA.
Jul 16, 1821 – 200 years ago
Birth of Mary Baker Eddy, American founder of Christian Science.
Jul 17, 1981 – 40 years ago
The Humber Bridge, linking Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England, was officially opened. It was the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge at that time. (Opened to traffic on June 14th.)
Jul 18, 1921 – 100 years ago
Birth of John Glenn, American astronaut and politician. The first American to orbit the Earth. He later became a U.S. Senator (D, Ohio). (Died 2016.)
Jul 19, 1821 – 200 years ago
The coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom.
Jul 20, 1871 – 150 years ago
British Columbia became a province of Canada.
Jul 21, 1931 – 90 years ago
The first regularly scheduled television broadcasts in the USA began, from CBS’s experimental station W2XAB in New York City.
Jul 22, 1991 – 30 years ago
The Citizen’s Charter was launched by British Prime Minister John Major. The initiative aimed to measure, improve and maintain public services.
Jul 23, 1961 – 60 years ago
The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) was founded in Nicaragua.
Jul 24, 1946 – 75 years ago
American comedy duo Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed together for the first time, at Club 500 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (They were not well received, so on the second night they threw out their scripts and ad-libbed their performance with great success. Their final show was on July 24, 1956 – exactly 10 years after they started.)
Jul 25, 1961 – 60 years ago
British electronics engineer Clive Sinclair founded Sinclair Radionics. The company initially produced radios and hi-fi equipment, but later developed pocket calculators, digital watches, portable televisions and scientific equipment. Clive Sinclair left the company in 1979. It is now known as Aim & Thurlby Thandar Instruments.
Jul 26, 1971 – 50 years ago
NASA launched Apollo 15 on a manned mission to the Moon. This was the first mission in which a lunar rover was used.
Jul 27, 1996 – 25 years ago
Centennial Olympic Park bombing, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Two people were killed and over 100 injured.
Jul 28, 1896 – 125 years ago
The city of Miami, Florida, USA was incorporated.
Jul 29, 1921 – 100 years ago
Adolf Hitler became leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (the Nazi Party).
Jul 30, 1921 – 100 years ago
The hormone insulin was discovered by Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Jul 31, 1941 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: Nazi leader Hermann Goering instructed SS leader Reinhard Heydrich to submit an administrative and financial plan for “the final solution of the Jewish question.”
More anniversaries:
You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2021. The 2022 edition is also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.