On this day in history, with a question to investigate
Most of the Declaration's signers signed on August 2, not July 4. The Berlin Wall opened because of a muddled answer at a press conference. Each anniversary comes with a question that makes you check the evidence.
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What shows up next
1863: Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address.
1901: The first Nobel Prizes are awarded.
1773: The Boston Tea Party.
1903: The Wright brothers make the first powered, controlled flight at Kitty Hawk.
2007: Steve Jobs unveils the first iPhone in San Francisco.
1759: The British Museum opens to the public in London.
Anniversaries are a great way into history, but "on this day" lists often stop at the headline. Each event here adds a detective question: who wrote the source, when, and what might they have left out or tidied up?
There are 37 well-documented dates across 2,000 years, including Caesar, Hastings, Magna Carta, the Titanic, D-Day and Apollo 11. Teachers can use them as five-minute starters, and they're great at the dinner table.
PastRush: History Detective: History investigations where you order events and weigh sources from case files.
Get it free on the App StoreHow to add it on iPhone
- Open this page in Safari on your iPhone.
- Tap Add to iPhone Calendar, then tap Subscribe.
- Tap Add. Events appear in the Calendar app within a minute.
On a Mac, the same button opens Calendar. In Google Calendar, use the Google button, or paste https://honestlittleapps.github.io/calendars/on-this-day-in-history-calendar/on-this-day-history.ics into Other calendars › From URL.
Questions
Are the dates reliable?
They're widely documented. Where historians disagree, like Pompeii's eruption date or Luther's 95 Theses, the event says so.
Which calendar are old dates in?
Dates before 1582 are given as traditionally reported (Julian calendar), for example the Ides of March in 44 BC.
What's PastRush?
A history game where you order events and weigh sources from case files, like a detective.
Is this calendar free?
Yes. It costs nothing, needs no account and shows no ads. You can unsubscribe at any time.
How do I remove it from my iPhone?
Open the Calendar app, tap Calendars at the bottom, tap the ⓘ next to this calendar and choose Delete Calendar. Or go to Settings › Apps › Calendar › Calendar Accounts › Subscribed Calendars.
Other ways to get it
A daily page you can add to your Home Screen · an RSS feed · a free widget for your website · the press kit