August 21 - This Day in History

August 21: General Interest
1959: Hawaii becomes 50th state

The modern United States receives its crowning star when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting Hawaii into the Union as the 50th state... read more


American Revolution
1754 : Bloody Ban Tarleton born in Britain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bloody-ban-tarleton-born-in-britain


Automotive
1897 : Olds Motor Works founded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/olds-motor-works-founded


Civil War
1863 : Guerillas massacre residents of Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sack-of-lawrence-kansas


Cold War
1991 : Coup attempt against Gorbachev collapses
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/coup-attempt-against-gorbachev-collapses


Crime
1863 : Outlaws attack Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/outlaws-attack-lawrence-kansas

1911 : Theft of Mona Lisa is discovered
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/theft-of-mona-lisa-is-discovered


Disaster
1986 : Gas cloud kills Cameroon villagers
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gas-cloud-kills-cameroon-villagers


General Interest
1831 : Slave revolt erupts in Virginia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/slave-revolt-erupts-in-virginia

1858 : Lincoln-Douglas debates begin
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-douglas-debates-begin

1961 : Kenyatta freed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kenyatta-freed


Hollywood
1987 : Dirty Dancing opens
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dirty-dancing-opens


Literary
1920 : Christopher Robin's birthday
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/christopher-robins-birthday


Music
1935 : The Swing Era begins with Benny Goodman's triumphant Palomar Ballroom performance
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-swing-era-begins-with-benny-goodmans-triumphant-palomar-ballroom-performance


Old West
1883 : Trial of Frank James begins in Missouri
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/trial-of-frank-james-begins-in-missouri


Presidential
1959 : Eisenhower signs Hawaii statehood bill
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-signs-hawaii-statehood-bill


Sports
2004 : Michael Phelps wins eighth medal
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/michael-phelps-wins-eighth-medal


Vietnam War
1963 : Nhu's Special Forces attack the Buddhists
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nhus-special-forces-attack-the-buddhists

1965 : U.S. pilots given green light to go after anti-aircraft missiles in the North
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-pilots-given-green-light-to-go-after-anti-aircraft-missiles-in-the-north

1969 : Nixon meets with South Korean President
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-meets-with-south-korean-president

1971 : Antiwar protestors raid draft offices
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/antiwar-protestors-raid-draft-offices


World War I
1914 : Battles of the Frontiers fought near Ardennes and Charleroi
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battles-of-the-frontiers-fought-near-ardennes-and-charleroi


World War II
1944 : The seeds of the United Nations are planted
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-seeds-of-the-united-nations-are-planted