And so on...
Fact 1: A Significant Day for Winter Sports
Did you know that on February 7th, 1984, the 14th Winter Olympic Games was opened in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia? These Winter Olympics became an exciting event producing many memorable sports moments and marking a first-time selection of a host city outside the locations considered "traditional" for winter sports.
Fact 2: A Foundation for Baseball
February 7 also plays an important role in the history of baseball. It's the day, in 1876, when the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), was formed.
Fact 3: The Beatles’ Way to America
On February 7, 1964, The Beatles arrived in America for the first time, marking the start of Beatlemania on the other side of the Atlantic. Their arrival and the following appearances on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' revolutionized the American music industry.
Fact 4: Breakthroughs in Film
On this day in 1924, the film "The Epic of Everest" by Captain John Noel was released. This was the official record of Mallory and Irvine's 1924 expedition to Everest, and this was the first attempt to use color photography in film.
Fact 5: A Great Day for Space History
The largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed, the Saturn V, was launched for the final time on February 7, 1971. The Apollo 14 mission returned to Earth safely and successfully after exploring the Moon.
Fact 6: The Birth of a Peculiar Holiday
It might sound strange, but February 7 is also known as 'eDay'. The day is celebrated by some people as a peculiar holiday because e (the base of the natural logarithm) rounds to 2.71828, and the American-style date for this day can be read as 2/7/18, which matches the first four digits of e.
Fact 7: New Joys for Playwrights
The famous playwright Victor Hugo's legendary work "Ruy Blas" was first performed on February 7, 1838. Showing at the Comédie-Française in Paris, the play was a major hit!
Fact 8: Kings Born, Kings Fallen
Interestingly, it is a historically significant day for monarchs. King William the Silent of Orange was born on February 7, 1533. In contrast, King Richard II of England abdicated the throne on the same day in 1399.
Fact 9: Peak Sets the Record
Everest, the world's highest peak is well-known, but on the 7th of February, the peak received a new record. Apa Sherpa, a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer, broke his own world record by climbing Mount Everest for the 21st time on February 7, 2011.
Fact 10: Significant Deaths in Literature
Several influential authors have died on February 7, such as John Bunyan, the author of "The Pilgrim's Progress," in 1688, and Charles Dickens, the esteemed English writer and social critic, in 1870.
Fact 11: Exploration of Ocean Depths
On this day, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest known part of the world's oceans, was reached by the first human-occupied deep-sea submersible, the Trieste.
Fact 12: Creation of a Classic Literature
Charles Dickens began publishing "Great Expectations" on this day in 1861, serializing it weekly. This substantial novel is now considered a classic of English literature.
Fact 13: Civil Disobedience
February 7, 1965 is memorable for being the day when civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson was fatally shot by Alabama State Trooper James Fowler, sparking the Selma to Montgomery marches, a significant event in United States civil rights history.
Fact 14: Monopoly Finds its Feet
Monopoly, one of the most popular board games, was sold by Parker Brothers on this day in 1935. Since then, it has entertained millions with the joys (and frustrations!) of real-estate.
Fact 15: Tragedy Strikes a Space Shuttle
A tragic day in the history of space exploration on February 7, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven crew members.
Fact 16: Traitor Captured
Revolutionary War hero Benedict Arnold, who later defected to the British side, was ordered arrested in 1779 on this day.
Fact 17: Earthquake Hits San Francisco
On February 7, 1812, a severe earthquake hit San Francisco, causing widespread damage. It was one of the most powerful in Californian history.
Fact 18: A Natural Wonder's Birth
On this day in 1909, the Grand Canyon became a national monument, preserving this massive, colorful, eroding landscape for future generations.
Fact 19: The Federal Art Project Begins
In 1936, the Federal Art Project, a program to fund the visual arts, was initiated, marking a significant point in art history in the United States.
Fact 20: Birthday of a Great Writer
February 7 also marks the birth of one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, Charles Dickens, born on this day in 1812. His works like "A Christmas Carol" and "Great Expectations" remain universally popular, capturing a vivid picture of Victorian London. His birth on this day adds to the countless reasons that make February 7 a remarkable day.