Discover what happened on August 20 in history as scientific breakthroughs, broadcasting milestones, space exploration, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on August 20 in History?
On this day, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace’s work on natural selection was published, Detroit radio station 8MK began broadcasting, and NASA launched Voyager 2 carrying its famous Golden Record.
AUGUST 20 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1858 – Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace’s groundbreaking papers describing evolution through natural selection were published in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London.
1866 – The National Labor Union in the U.S. recommended an eight-hour workday.
1866 – President Andrew Johnson formally declared the American Civil War over, more than a year after most of the fighting had ended.
1920 – Radio station 8MK, now WWJ, went on the air in Detroit, MI. One of America’s earliest broadcasting stations, it pioneered regularly scheduled radio programming.
1923 – The first American dirigible, the “Shenandoah,” was launched in Lakehurst, NJ.
1938 – Lou Gehrig hit his 23rd career grand slam, a record that stood for 75 years until it was broken by Alex Rodriguez.
1939 – The National Negro Bowling Association, now known as The National Bowling Association, was organized in Detroit, MI, to provide opportunities for Black bowlers who faced discrimination and exclusion from the sport.
1948 – The largest crowd to see a nighttime major league baseball game happened in Cleveland, OH. The Indians and Chicago’s White Sox played, at Municipal Stadium, in front of 78,382 people.
1967 – Dolby noise-reduction technology was introduced for commercial music recordings, helping reduce the background hiss heard on records and tapes.
1975 – NASA launched the Viking 1 planetary probe towards Mars.
1977 – NASA launched Voyager 2 carrying the Golden Record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disc containing music, sounds, images and greetings intended to represent life on Earth.
1985 – An original Xerox 914 copier was presented to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.
1986 – In Edmond, OK, a postal employee, Patrick Sherrill, gunned down 14 of his co-workers and then died by suicide.
1988 – “Black Saturday” of the Yellowstone fire in Yellowstone National Park.
1989 – In Los Angeles, CA, entertainment executive Jose Menendez and his wife, Kitty, were shot to death by their sons, Lyle and Erik.
1989 – The NBC TV show “Saved By the Bell” debuted.
1996 – Carlos Santana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2016 – Tornadoes hit parts of Wyoming and Grand Rapids, MI.
2020 – Joe Biden delivered his acceptance speech virtually for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
2020 – Kamala Harris accepted her nomination for vice-president, becoming the first US woman of color on a major-party ticket.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 20:
Don King – 95 years old (1931) – Boxing promoter
George J. Mitchell – 93 years old (1933) – Lieutenant, lawyer, and politician
Ron Paul – 91 years old (1935) – Captain, physician, and politician
Rubén Hinojosa – 86 years old (1940) – Businessman and politician
Rich Brooks – 85 years old (1941) – Football player and coach
Fred Norman – 84 years old (1942) – Baseball player
Graig Nettles – 82 years old (1944) – Baseball player and manager
Connie Chung – 80 years old (1946) – Journalist
James Pankow – 79 years old (1947) – Musician
Ray Wise – 79 years old (1947) – Actor
DeForest Soaries – 75 years old (1951) – Minister and politician, 30th Secretary of State of New Jersey
John Hiatt – 74 years old (1952) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Peter Horton – 73 years old (1953) – Actor and director
Mike Jackson – 73 years old (1953) – Politician
Jim Trenton – 73 years old (1953) – Radio host and actor
Leroy Burgess – 73 years old (1953) – Singer, songwriter, keyboard player, recording artist, and record producer
Quinn Buckner – 72 years old (1954) – Basketball player and coach
Al Roker – 72 years old (1954) – News anchor, television personality, and author
Joan Allen – 70 years old (1956) – Actress
Paul Johnson – 69 years old (1957) – Football coach
David O. Russell – 68 years old (1958) – Director and screenwriter
John Stehr – 68 years old (1958) – Journalist
Mark Langston – 66 years old (1960) – Baseball player
James Marsters – 64 years old (1962) – Actor
Kal Daniels – 63 years old (1963) – Baseball player
KRS-One – 61 years old (1965) – Rapper and producer
Colin Cunningham – 60 years old (1966) – Actor
Andy Benes – 59 years old (1967) – Baseball player
Billy Gardell – 57 years old (1969) – Comedian, actor, and producer
Mark Holzemer – 57 years old (1969) – Baseball player and scout
Fred Durst – 56 years old (1970) – Singer-songwriter
Ke Huy Quan – 55 years old (1971) – Vietnamese-American actor
Derrick Alston – 54 years old (1972) – Basketball player
Melvin Booker – 54 years old (1972) – Basketball player
Todd Helton – 53 years old (1973) – Baseball player
Donn Swaby – 53 years old (1973) – Actor and screenwriter
Amy Adams – 52 years old (1974) – Actress
Misha Collins – 52 years old (1974) – Actor
Elijah Williams – 51 years old (1975) – Football player and coach
Chris Drury – 50 years old (1976) – Ice hockey player
Kristen Miller – 50 years old (1976) – Actress, producer, and screenwriter
Josh Pearce – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player
Aaron Taylor – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player
Chris Schroder – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player
Cory Sullivan – 47 years old (1979) – Baseball player
Craig Ochs – 45 years old (1981) – Football player
Byron Saxton – 45 years old (1981) – Wrestler, manager, and sportscaster
Hamza Abdullah – 43 years old (1983) – Football player
Andrew Garfield – 43 years old (1983) – American-English actor
Brian Schaefering – 43 years old (1983) – Football player
Jamie Hoffmann – 42 years old (1984) – Baseball player
Brant Daugherty – 41 years old (1985) – Actor
Blake DeWitt – 41 years old (1985) – Baseball player
Matt Hague – 41 years old (1985) – Baseball player
Joe Vitale – 41 years old (1985) – Ice hockey player
Mark Washington – 41 years old (1985) – Football player
Steven Zalewski – 40 years old (1986) – Ice hockey player
Jerryd Bayless – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player
Sarah R – 38 years old (1988) – Lotfi , American director, producer, and screenwriter
Kirko Bangz – 37 years old (1989) – Rapper and producer
Bradley Klahn – 36 years old (1990) – Tennis player
Demi Lovato – 34 years old (1992) – Singer-songwriter and actress
Alex Newell – 34 years old (1992) – Actor and singer
Mitchell Trubisky – 32 years old (1994) – Football player
Liana Liberato – 31 years old (1995) – Actress
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR AUGUST 20:
- National Radio Day: With radio, you can hear stories, music, news, and voices from faraway places, bringing the world together in a powerful and immediate way.
- National Bacon Lovers Day: National Bacon Lovers Day is a delightful celebration for all bacon enthusiasts. This day highlights the universal appeal and deliciousness of bacon. People from all corners of the globe come together to indulge in their favorite bacon dishes. Whether it's crispy strips for breakfast or creative bacon-infused treats, this day...
- World Mosquito Day: Mosquitoes are carriers of a deadly disease that affects millions annually. Protect yourself from these tiny but dangerous insects.
- International Hawaiian Pizza Day: Exploring the delightful combination of ham, pineapple, and cheese, a culinary harmony that tantalizes taste buds.
- National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day: The only thing better than pecan pie is pecan pie with chocolate. Make your own, or find a bakery that sells chocolate pecan pie for this rare and tasty treat.
- International Day of Medical Transporters: Take some time to appreciate the men and women who get the sick injured to where they can get help. Medical transporters save lives every day, so thank them.
- Bullying No Way Week: Bullying No Way Week unites Australian schools, students, and families in tackling bullying together. This annual event urges young people to recognize bullying, understand its effects, and learn how to act against it. How to Observe Bullying No Way Week Here are some creative ways to observe Bullying No Way Week. These...
- National Hazy IPA Day: Crack open a can and you’ll see the difference right away. Hazy IPAs don’t pour like regular beers—they swirl with bold color, thick haze, and a heady burst of tropical scent. Packed with juicy flavor and low bitterness, these brews deliver a smooth, citrusy kick that’s both easygoing and exciting...
- National Accessible Air Travel Day: National Accessible Air Travel Day underscores the pressing need for accessible air travel for individuals with disabilities. This day emphasizes the importance of airlines and airports providing accommodations that ensure all passengers can travel safely and comfortably. Despite existing regulations like the Air Carrier Access Act, travelers with disabilities often...
- Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
- National Aviation Week: National Aviation Week is a time to look up and celebrate the sky's vastness and the marvels that allow us to explore it. This special week highlights the incredible journey of human flight, from the Wright brothers' first successful airplane to today’s sophisticated aircraft. It's a chance to reflect on...
- Navasard: Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, a celebration that once united communities in festivities and tribute to their gods. Marking the start of a new cycle, it was a time when people believed divine forces came down to the Earth. With music, dance, and communal feasts, it reflected a...
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