World History

  • August 14, 1945: Japan accepted the terms set out in the Potsdam Declaration and agreed to unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II. This day is commemorated as V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) in many Allied countries.
  • August 15, 1947: India gained its independence from British rule, marking the end of British Raj. This day is celebrated annually as India’s Independence Day.
  • August 16, 1977: Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, died at his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee. His death marked a significant moment in the history of music and popular culture.
  • August 19, 1991: The Soviet Union experienced an unsuccessful coup attempt by members of the government opposed to the reforms of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. The coup’s failure sped up the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991.
  • August 20, 1975: The Viking 1 spacecraft was launched by NASA. Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA’s Viking program. It was the first mission to successfully land a fully operational spacecraft on Mars.

Cleveland History

  • August 14, 1938: The Great Lakes Exposition closed. The exposition was held in Cleveland, Ohio, in the summers of 1936 and 1937, drawing seven million visitors over its two-year run. The exposition was intended to celebrate the centennial of Cleveland’s incorporation as a city.
  • August 15, 1970: The Cleveland Browns played their first game in the NFL (National Football League) after the NFL and AFL (American Football League) merger.
  • August 16, 1964: The Beatles performed at Public Auditorium in Cleveland during their first American tour. The concert was stopped briefly due to the enthusiastic crowd.
  • August 17, 1948: The Cleveland Indians played their first night game at home, at the Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Night games had been slowly integrated into professional baseball since the 1930s, and this marked a milestone for the team.
  • August 20, 1971: The Cleveland Cavaliers, part of the National Basketball Association (NBA), moved from Cleveland Arena to the Richfield Coliseum, which was their home ground until 1994.