World History

  • August 7, 1942: During World War II, U.S. forces landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. It marked the start of the first major allied offensive against Japanese-held positions in the Pacific.
  • August 8, 1974: U.S. President Richard Nixon announced his resignation on national television, following the Watergate scandal. His resignation became effective the next day, and Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States.
  • August 9, 1945: The United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Japan, this time on the city of Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s unconditional surrender and the end of World War II.
  • August 12, 1990: One of the largest and most well-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossils, later named “Sue”, was discovered in South Dakota. It is now on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.
  • August 13, 1961: The government of East Germany began construction of the Berlin Wall, a barrier that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin. The wall stood until November 9, 1989, becoming a potent symbol of Cold War tensions.

Cleveland History

  • August 7, 1957: The Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees in a remarkable game featuring two grand slams hit by Indians’ players Rocky Colavito and Gene Woodling.
  • August 8, 1978: The “Ten Cent Beer Night” riot occurred at a Cleveland Indians baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Cleveland Stadium. The promotional event led to fan unruliness fueled by the unusually cheap beer prices, causing the game to be forfeited to Texas.
  • August 9, 1970: The inaugural Cleveland Marathon took place, which has since become a major annual event, attracting runners from all over the world.
  • August 12, 1929: The Cleveland Airport (now known as Cleveland Hopkins International Airport) was dedicated, eventually growing to become a major hub connecting the Midwest.
  • August 13, 1913: The first production of the Cleveland Play House was performed. The Cleveland Play House is America’s first permanently established professional theatre company.