Discover what happened on August 27 in history as historic firsts, scientific achievements, cultural milestones, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on August 27 in History?
On this day, Abraham Lincoln made his only known visit to Michigan, the first Guinness Book of Records was published, and Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years.
AUGUST 27 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1856 – Abraham Lincoln, then an Illinois lawyer and rising Republican political figure, spoke at a rally in Bronson Park in Kalamazoo, MI. It was Lincoln’s only known visit to Michigan.
1859 – Edwin Drake successfully drilled for oil near Titusville, PA, establishing what is widely considered America’s first commercially successful oil well and helping launch the modern petroleum industry.
1894 – The Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act became law. The legislation included a federal income tax provision that was later ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
1939 – The Heinkel He 178 made the first successful flight by an aircraft powered by a turbojet engine.
1946 – Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was formally dedicated.
1955 – The first edition of The Guinness Book of Records was published in Great Britain. The book eventually became one of the world’s best-selling copyrighted publications. (I was actually in The Guinness Book of World Records for one year! Click here to read more about that.)
1962 – NASA launched Mariner 2 toward Venus. Later that year, it became the first successful spacecraft to encounter another planet.
1981 – Work began on recovering a safe from the luxury liner Andrea Doria. The liner sank in 1956 in the waters off of Massachusetts.
1984 – President Ronald Reagan announced the Teacher in Space Project, which would send a civilian teacher aboard a Space Shuttle mission. Christa McAuliffe was selected for the program the following year.
1984 – Diane Sawyer became the fifth reporter on CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes.”
1985 – The Space Shuttle Discovery left for a seven-day mission in which three satellites were launched and another was repaired and redeployed.
1989 – The first U.S. commercial satellite rocket was launched. A British communications satellite was onboard.
1990 – Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and four others were killed when their helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from East Troy, WI. Vaughan was 35 years old.
1992 – Nintendo released Super Mario Kart for the Super Famicom in Japan, launching what would become one of gaming’s most successful racing franchises.
1996 – California Governor Pete Wilson signed an order that would halt state benefits to immigrants without papers.
1998 – James Brolin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1998 – Titanic became the first movie to surpass $600 million at the North American box office.
1999 – The final resident crew departed Russia’s Mir space station, leaving the aging orbital station unoccupied. Mir remained in orbit until its controlled reentry in 2001.
2001 – Work began on the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
2003 – Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, coming within approximately 34.6 million miles of our planet.
2006 – CComair Flight 5191 crashed shortly after attempting to take off from the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY. Forty-nine of the 50 people aboard were killed.
2011 – Hurricane Irene hit the east coast, killing 47 and causing an estimated $15.6 billion in damage.
2012 – NASA’s Curiosity rover broadcast a recorded message from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden from the surface of Mars, marking the first human voice transmitted from another planet.
2014 – Birdman, starring Michael Keaton, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. The film later won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2017 – Boxer Floyd Mayweather stopped Conor McGregor by a 10th round TKO to win his final fight before retiring. Mayweather’s career record was 50-0.
2019 – Race car driver and television personality Jessi Combs was killed while attempting to set a women’s land-speed record in Oregon’s Alvord Desert. Her 522.783-mph run was later officially recognized as a world record.
2022 – AA 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card sold at auction for $12.6 million, setting a record at the time for the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 27:
Tommy Sands – 89 years old (1937) – Pop singer and actor
William Least Heat-Moon – 87 years old (1939) – Travel writer and historian
Harrison Page – 85 years old (1941) – Actor
Chuck Girard – 83 years old (1943) – Singer-songwriter and pianist
Bob Kerrey – 83 years old (1943) – Lieutenant and politician, Medal of Honor recipient, 35th Governor of Nebraska
Tuesday Weld – 83 years old (1943) – Model and actress
G. W. Bailey – 82 years old (1944) – Actor
Barbara Bach – 79 years old (1947) – Actress and model
Kirk Francis – 79 years old (1947) – Engineer and producer
John Mehler – 78 years old (1948) – Drummer
Sgt. Slaughter – 78 years old (1948) – Wrestler
Leah Jamieson – 77 years old (1949) – Computer scientist, engineer, and academic
Charles Fleischer – 76 years old (1950) – Comedian and actor
Buddy Bell – 75 years old (1951) – Baseball player and manager
Mack Brown – 75 years old (1951) – Football player and coach
Randall Garrison – 75 years old (1951) – American-Canadian criminologist and politician
Robert Richardson – 71 years old (1955) – Cinematographer
Diana Scarwid – 71 years old (1955) – Actress
Jeff Grubb – 69 years old (1957) – Game designer and author
Yolanda Adams – 65 years old (1961) – Singer, producer, and actress
Tom Ford – 65 years old (1961) – Fashion designer and film director
Scott Dibble – 61 years old (1965) – Lawyer and politician
Rob Burnett – 59 years old (1967) – Football player and sportscaster
Eric "Bobo" Correa – 58 years old (1968) – Musician
Daphne Koller – 58 years old (1968) – Israeli-American computer scientist and academic
Cesar Millan – 57 years old (1969) – Mexican-American dog trainer, television personality, and author
Chandra Wilson – 57 years old (1969) – Actress and director
Tony Kanal – 56 years old (1970) – British-American bass player. songwriter, and record producer
Jim Thome – 56 years old (1970) – Baseball player and manager
Kyung Lah – 55 years old (1971) – South Korean-American journalist
Jimmy Pop – 54 years old (1972) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
José Vidro – 52 years old (1974) – Puerto Rican-American baseball player
Blake Adams – 51 years old (1975) – Golfer
Mase – 51 years old (1975) – Rapper, songwriter and pastor
Jonny Moseley – 51 years old (1975) – Puerto Rican-American skier and television host
Demetria McKinney – 48 years old (1978) – Actress and singer
Aaron Paul – 47 years old (1979) – Actor and producer
Rusty Smith – 47 years old (1979) – Speed skater
Karla Mosley – 45 years old (1981) – Actress
Amanda Fuller – 42 years old (1984) – Actress
Kayla Ewell – 41 years old (1985) – Actress
Alexandra Nechita – 41 years old (1985) – Romanian-American painter and sculptor
Mario – 40 years old (1986) – Singer and actor
Darren McFadden – 39 years old (1987) – Football player
Alexa PenaVega – 38 years old (1988) – Actress and singer
Juliana Cannarozzo – 37 years old (1989) – Figure skater and actress
Blake Jenner – 34 years old (1992) – Actor and singer
Stephen Morris – 34 years old (1992) – Football player
Ellar Coltrane – 32 years old (1994) – Actor
Breanna Stewart – 32 years old (1994) – Basketball player
Kevin Huerter – 28 years old (1998) – Basketball player
Rod Wave – 28 years old (1998) – Rapper, singer, and songwriter
Ariana Greenblatt – 19 years old (2007) – Actress
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR AUGUST 27:
- National Burger Day: A juicy, flavorful patty nestled between soft, toasted buns, adorned with melted cheese, crispy bacon, and a tangy sauce.
- National Tug of War Day: Gather friends and family to create a team, or join a team at a tug-of-war event. Whether two people a side or a thousand, everyone loves a good HEAVE.
- Hungry Ghost Festival: Have you ever heard of the Hungry Ghost Festival? It's a lively and important event in many Asian cultures. On this day, people believe spirits of the dead roam the earth, seeking comfort and offerings from the living. Families prepare food, burn incense, and offer items to keep these spirits...
- National Just Because Day: Sometimes taking a holiday and celebrating happens for a specific reason. And sometimes it can happen for no reason at all! Which is the exact idea behind National Just Because Day. History of National Just Because Day Founded by Joseph J. Goodwin in the late 1950s, National Just Because Day...
- International Lottery Day: International Lottery Day is a day filled with excitement, dreams, and possibilities. It’s a time when people across the globe come together to try their luck in lotteries, hoping for that life-changing win. The thrill of anticipation, the moment just before the numbers are called, keeps many people on the...
- The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day: Read the works of Irish author Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, who went by the pen name “The Duchess” on “The Duchess” Who Wasn’t (actually a duchess) Day.
- Lyndon Baines Johnson Day: Lyndon Baines Johnson Day is a special day in Texas to honor a native son who rose from small-town teacher to the nation’s highest office. This celebration highlights a figure whose leadership changed many lives. People think about a bold leader who pushed for fairness, education, and health care. His...
- Crab Soup Day: You can almost hear the laughter before you smell the soup. Crab Soup Day stirs up more than just a pot—it stirs up memories, stories, and smiles. Big metal pots boil with crab legs poking through the surface, surrounded by herbs, roots, and a mix of local flavors. The soup bubbles...
- National Petroleum Day: Try going the day without using any petroleum products—from car gas to plastic and more—to see the massive impact petroleum has had on 21st Century living.
- World Lake Day: World Lake Day is all about giving lakes the attention they truly deserve. These peaceful places do more than offer a pretty view. They give us fresh water, help grow our food, and provide a home for fish, birds, and other animals. When families spend weekends by the water or farmers...
- National Banana Lovers Day: Slice them onto cereal or toast, bake them into bread, or just enjoy a potassium-rich banana straight from the peel for a quick, easy, healthy and cheap snack.
- World Rock Paper Scissors Day: Engage in a timeless game of strategy and chance that adds excitement and decision-making fun to any moment.
- National Pots De Creme Day: Heavy cream, whole milk, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt are all it takes to make your own quick and basic delicious pots de crème.
- 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...
- Rtveli: Rtveli is a vibrant grape harvest festival celebrated across Georgia. It is a joyful blend of hard work and celebration. It's a time when people unite to collect the fruits of their labor and honor the cultural heritage of winemaking that has been cherished for generations. The festival extends beyond...
- National Composites Week: National Composites Week is an event that spotlights the critical role composite materials play in various industries. These materials, known for their strength, durability, and flexibility, are used in everything from aerospace to everyday consumer goods. During this week, the spotlight is on the innovative ways these composites enhance product performance...
- Be Kind to Humankind Week: Genuine gestures illuminate hearts, weaving compassion into the fabric of everyday connections, fostering solidarity and empathy.
- 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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