August 1 - This Day in History

August 1: General Interest
1961: Texans head for the thrills at Six Flags

On this day in 1961, amusement park lovers "head for the thrills" as Six Flags Over Texas, the first park in the Six Flags chain, opens. Located on 212 acres in Arlington, Texas, the park was the first to feature log flume... read more


American Revolution
1774 : Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-priestley-discovers-oxygen


Automotive
2007 : First drive-through ATM opens in China
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-drive-through-atm-opens-in-china


Civil War
1864 : Sheridan takes command of Army of the Shenandoah
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sheridan-takes-command


Cold War
1975 : Helsinki Final Act signed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/helsinki-final-act-signed


Crime
1966 : An ex-Marine goes on a killing spree at the University of Texas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/an-ex-marine-goes-on-a-killing-spree-at-the-university-of-texas


Disaster
1971 : Mysterious flood strikes North Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mysterious-flood-strikes-north-vietnam


General Interest
1498 : Columbus lands in South America
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/columbus-lands-in-south-america

1914 : First World War erupts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-world-war-erupts

1944 : Warsaw Revolt begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/warsaw-revolt-begins


Hollywood
1981 : MTV launches
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mtv-launches


Literary
1994 : Pope John Paul II receives record-breaking advance
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pope-john-paul-ii-receives-record-breaking-advance


Music
1981 : MTV makes its maiden broadcast
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mtv-makes-its-maiden-broadcast


Old West
1953 : Shane released by Paramount
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/shane-released-by-paramount


Presidential
1972 : Bush is suspended from flying with the Air National Guard
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bush-is-suspended-from-flying-with-the-air-national-guard


Sports
1996 : Michael Johnson brings home second gold
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/michael-johnson-brings-home-second-gold


Vietnam War
1964 : North Vietnamese accuse South Vietnam and the United States of attack
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/north-vietnamese-accuse-south-vietnam-and-the-united-states-of-attack


World War I
1914 : First World War erupts in Europe
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-world-war-erupts-in-europe


World War II
1943 : PT-109 sinks; Lieutenant Kennedy is instrumental in saving crew
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pt-109-sinks-lieutenant-kennedy-is-instrumental-in-saving-crew