1. The Day of the Honey Bee
August 20th is celebrated as National Honey Bee Day in the United States. The holiday was first observed in 2009 as a way to honour honey bees and beekeeping. It promotes the indispensable role that bees play in our ecosystem and agriculture.
2. An Astronomical First
The first photographs of Earth from outer space were taken on August 20, 1960, by the American satellite, Explorer 6. This marked a significant milestone in space photography and exploration.
August 20 is Independence Restoration Day in Estonia. On this day in 1991, Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union. It's a national public holiday celebrated with various events, fireworks and concerts.
4. A Monumental Masterpiece
The famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci was stolen from the Louvre Museum on August 20, 1911. The painting was recovered two years later in December 1913 and since then, it continues to mystify its spectators with her enigmatic smile.
5. A Day for Humanitarian Heroes
August 20th is World Humanitarian Day. It is a day dedicated to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service. It also rallies support for people affected by crises around the world.
.6 Birth of a Literary Icon
One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, H.P. Lovecraft, was born on August 20, 1890. His work, notably the so-called Cthulhu Mythos, has inspired a vast body of literature and an entire subgenre of horror, sometimes called Lovecraftian horror.
7. The Day Darkness Took Over
On August 20, 1914 the city of Brussels fell under German occupation during World War I. The city would remain under German occupation until November 1918.
8. The Birth of the National Park Service
On August 20, 1916, the National Park Service in the United States was established by Congress. The agency was created to protect the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the Department of the Interior.
9. Historic Leap for African-American Athletes
On August 20, 1939, African-American baseball player, Satchel Paige, pitched for the Kansas City Monarchs in the first game of the Negro World Series. Paige won his game in front of 11,000 fans, blasting through the integration barriers in American sports.
10. The "Avatar" Phenomenon
On August 20, 2010, James Cameron's movie Avatar, originally released in December 2009, became the first movie to ever cross the $2 billion mark in box office takings, setting a new benchmark for movie profits.
11. A Noteworthy Breakthrough in Television Industry
On August 20, 1921, the first ever television commercial aired. The advertisement was for a real estate company in New York and marked a new era in marketing and advertising.
12. A Day for Mosquitoes
August 20th is also World Mosquito Day. It marks the 1897 discovery by British doctor Sir Ronald Ross that female mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans.
13. The Longest Recorded Flight
On August 20, 1910, French Aviator Raymonde de Laroche won the Coupe Femina for a non-stop long-distance flight of over four hours duration. This was an incredible achievement at a time when aviation technology was still in its infancy.
14. Hollywood Loses an Icon
The legendary Hollywood actor and filmmaker, Groucho Marx, known for his quick wit, passed away on August 20, 1977. His work is still appreciated and loved by audiences worldwide.
15. Celebrating Indian Cinema
In India, August 20 is marked as Indian Cinemas Day. On this day in 1896, the first ever film screening took place in India, at the Watson's Hotel in Mumbai.
16. A Day to Remember Elvis Presley
On August 20, 1977, three days after the death of legendary singer Elvis Presley, his song "Way Down" peaked at No. 1 on the UK Charts, reaffirming his iconic status even in death.
17. The First Around the World Flight
The first successful flight around the world completed its journey on August 20, 1924. The flight was conducted by a team of aviators from the United States Army Air Service, showcasing the potential of aviation technology.
18. Launch of the Voyager 2
The Voyager 2, a space probe sent by NASA to study the outer Solar System and beyond, was launched on August 20, 1977. It remains in contact and is the longest-operating spacecraft in human history.
19. A Day for Virtual Reality
Delegates of Virtual World Society declared August 20 as the “World Virtual Reality Day”. This day is to recognize and celebrate the advancements in virtual reality technology.
20. The 252nd Day of the Year
In non-leap years, August 20 is the 232nd day of the year. There are exactly 133 days left in the year after this date. An interesting fact for those of us who like to keep track of time in a unique way!