Cleveland History

Cleveland Leader Begins Publication (March 16, 1854): The Cleveland Leader, which would become one of the city’s major 19th-century newspapers, began publishing and helped shape political and civic discourse in Cleveland during a period of rapid urban growth.

Richfield Coliseum Groundbreaking (March 16, 1973): Construction began on the Richfield Coliseum, a major arena located between Cleveland and Akron that later served as home to the Cleveland Cavaliers and hosted major concerts and sporting events until 1994.

The Pretenders Perform at the Agora (March 17, 1980): Akron-born singer Chrissie Hynde returned to Northeast Ohio with her band The Pretenders for a notable performance at Cleveland’s Agora Ballroom, one of the region’s iconic rock venues.

Union Soldiers’ Burial Lot Established at Woodland Cemetery (March 18, 1862): The Cleveland City Council donated land at Woodland Cemetery for the burial of Union soldiers who died during the Civil War, reflecting the city’s active role in supporting the Union war effort.

Moondog Coronation Ball (March 21, 1952): Held at Cleveland Arena and organized by DJ Alan Freed, this concert is widely regarded as the first major rock and roll concert, reinforcing Cleveland’s legacy in the early development of the genre.

World History

Magellan Reaches the Philippines (March 16, 1521): Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his expedition reached the Philippine archipelago during the first circumnavigation of the Earth, marking the first recorded European contact with the islands.

My Lai Massacre (March 16, 1968): During the Vietnam War, U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in the Vietnamese village of My Lai, an event that became one of the most notorious atrocities of the conflict.

First Human Spacewalk (March 18, 1965): Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov conducted the first spacewalk during the Voskhod 2 mission, spending about 12 minutes outside his spacecraft.

Napoleon Returns to Paris (March 20, 1815): After escaping exile on Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte entered Paris and resumed power, beginning the period known as the Hundred Days before his defeat at Waterloo.

Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack (March 20, 1995): Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin nerve gas on Tokyo subway trains, killing 12 people and injuring thousands in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern Japan.