Discover what happened on August 29 in history as famous companies were founded, music history was made, space exploration advanced, and unforgettable events helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on August 29 in History?
On this day, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded, the Beatles performed their final ticketed concert, Netflix was founded, and Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.
AUGUST 29 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1898 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in Akron, OH, by Frank Seiberling. The company was named after Charles Goodyear, who had developed the process of vulcanizing rubber decades earlier.
1958 – The United States Air Force Academy began operations at its permanent campus near Colorado Springs, CO.
1965 – Gemini V astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after nearly eight days in space. The record-setting mission helped demonstrate that humans could endure a spaceflight long enough for a journey to the Moon and back.
1966 – The Beatles performed their final ticketed concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA. The band later made one final unannounced live appearance on the rooftop of Apple Corps in 1969.
1967 – The final episode of The Fugitive aired on ABC. The highly anticipated conclusion attracted one of the largest television audiences in U.S. history at the time.
1973 – Federal Judge John Sirica ordered President Richard Nixon to turn over secret White House recordings sought in the Watergate investigation. Nixon refused and appealed the ruling.
1977 – Three men were arrested near Elvis Presley’s mausoleum in Memphis amid reports of a plot to steal his body. Questions later arose about whether the alleged plot was genuine. Elvis and his mother were subsequently reburied at Graceland.
1997 – Netflix was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. The company launched its online DVD rental service the following year and eventually transformed itself into one of the world’s largest streaming entertainment services.
1998 – Northwest Airlines pilots went on strike after their union rejected the company’s final contract offer. The strike grounded the airline’s flights for nearly two weeks.
2005 – Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast, devastating communities in Louisiana and Mississippi and causing catastrophic flooding in New Orleans. Katrina became one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history.
2007 – It was revealed that billionaire hotelier Leona Helmsley had left a $12 million trust fund to her Maltese dog, Trouble. A judge later reduced the dog’s inheritance to $2 million.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 29:
Elliott Gould – 88 years old (1938) – Actor and producer
Robert Rubin – 88 years old (1938) – Lawyer and politician, 70th United States Secretary of the Treasury
Wyomia Tyus – 81 years old (1945) – Sprinter
Bob Beamon – 80 years old (1946) – Long jumper
Francine D. Blau – 80 years old (1946) – Economist and academic
Temple Grandin – 79 years old (1947) – Ethologist, academic, and author
Robert S. Langer – 78 years old (1948) – Chemical engineer, entrepreneur, and academic
Stan Hansen – 77 years old (1949) – Wrestler and actor
Darnell Hillman – 77 years old (1949) – Basketball player
Doug DeCinces – 76 years old (1950) – Baseball player
Frank Henenlotter – 76 years old (1950) – Director and screenwriter
Dave Reichert – 76 years old (1950) – Soldier and politician
Karen Hesse – 74 years old (1952) – Author and poet
Dave Malone – 74 years old (1952) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Deborah Van Valkenburgh – 74 years old (1952) – Actress
David Boaz – 73 years old (1953) – Businessman and author
James Quesada – 73 years old (1953) – Nicaraguan-American anthropologist and academic
Michael P. Kube-McDowell – 72 years old (1954) – Journalist, author, and academic
Diamanda Galás – 71 years old (1955) – Singer-songwriter and pianist
Jack Lew – 71 years old (1955) – Lawyer and politician, 25th White House Chief of Staff
Mark Morris – 70 years old (1956) – Dancer and choreographer
Eddie Murray – 70 years old (1956) – Football player
Steve Yarbrough – 70 years old (1956) – Novelist and short story writer
Jerry D. Bailey – 69 years old (1957) – Jockey and sportscaster
Rebecca De Mornay – 67 years old (1959) – Actress
Timothy Shriver – 67 years old (1959) – Businessman and activist
Stephen Wolfram – 67 years old (1959) – English-American physicist and mathematician
Todd English – 66 years old (1960) – Chef and author
Tony MacAlpine – 66 years old (1960) – Guitarist, songwriter, and producer
Rodney McCray – 65 years old (1961) – Basketball player
Carl Banks – 64 years old (1962) – Football player and sportscaster
Richard Angelo – 64 years old (1962) – Serial killer and poisoner
Perri "Pebbles" Reid – 62 years old (1964) – Dance-pop and urban contemporary singer-songwriter
Will Perdue – 61 years old (1965) – Basketball player and sportscaster
Neil Gorsuch – 59 years old (1967) – Lawyer and jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Anton Newcombe – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Meshell Ndegeocello – 58 years old (1968) – German-American singer-songwriter
Jennifer Crittenden – 57 years old (1969) – Screenwriter and producer
Carla Gugino – 55 years old (1971) – Actress
Dante Basco – 51 years old (1975) – Actor
Kyle Cook – 51 years old (1975) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Kevin Kaesviharn – 50 years old (1976) – Football player
Pablo Mastroeni – 50 years old (1976) – Argentine-American soccer player and manager
Devean George – 49 years old (1977) – Basketball player
John Hensley – 49 years old (1977) – Actor
John Patrick O'Brien – 49 years old (1977) – Soccer player
Roy Oswalt – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player
Aaron Rowand – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Ryan Shealy – 47 years old (1979) – Baseball player
Chris Simms – 46 years old (1980) – Football player
David West – 46 years old (1980) – Basketball player
Jennifer Landon – 43 years old (1983) – Actress
Anthony Recker – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player
Lea Michele – 40 years old (1986) – Actress and singer
Chris Taylor – 36 years old (1990) – Baseball player
Deshaun Thomas – 35 years old (1991) – Basketball player
Noah Syndergaard – 34 years old (1992) – Baseball player
Lucas Cruikshank – 33 years old (1993) – YouTuber and actor
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR AUGUST 29:
- National Sports Day: National Sports Day gets people moving, laughing, and competing in the best way possible. From parks to schoolyards, the day turns everyday spaces into hubs of energy. Children race, adults join games, and families cheer with full hearts. It’s not about trophies or records—it’s about jumping in, playing hard, and feeling...
- International Cosplay Day: Dressing up as beloved characters and stepping into fictional worlds for a day of fun and connection with like-minded enthusiasts.
- National Franchise Appreciation Day: Find and support local franchises to help these collaborative businesses stay afloat and offer the best wages and prices possible in our free market system.
- National Chop Suey Day: Order take-out or go to a Chinese restaurant and get plenty of chop suey, or “assorted pieces”, a flavorful dish associated with Chinese-American food.
- More Herbs, Less Salt Day: Low salt doesn’t mean flavorless. Find some healthy new recipes, or make your old recipes healthier by substituting some of the salt for more flavorful herbs.
- International Day Against Nuclear Tests: The International Day against Nuclear Tests is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to eliminate nuclear testing worldwide. This observance indicates the devastating effects of nuclear explosions on people and the environment. It is a call to action for global leaders and citizens alike to work toward a world free...
- National Lemon Juice Day: Adding a zesty, tangy twist to dishes and drinks, it's like a burst of sunshine that brings a delightful pop of flavor.
- Potteries Bottle Oven Day: Honor the last time the traditional Potteries Bottle Oven was fired by Gladstone Pottery Museum in the UK’s pottery history heaven, Stoke-on-Trent.
- Individual Rights Day: Read philosopher John Locke’s fantastic arguments for individual rights, the inalienable rights of every human being of all kinds as individuals, not just a group.
- According to Hoyle Day: According to Hoyle Day celebrates the name behind the rules of many popular games. Named after Edmond Hoyle, an expert in card games, this day honors the clarity and precision of Hoyle's work. His name has become synonymous with fairness and following the rules. This day reminds us of the...
- International Bat Night: Find the nearest bat habitat and see if you can spot some of these eco-system-sustaining, adorable, awe-inspiring flying critters on International Bat Night.
- 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...
- 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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