Fact 1: The International Day of Pink
April 13th is recognized as the International Day of Pink. This worldwide campaign is dedicated to standing against bullying, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia. The color pink serves as the symbolic representation of this movement. Participants are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.
Fact 2: Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
April 13th is the birth date of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Born on this day in 1743, Jefferson was one of the country’s founding fathers and primary authors of the Declaration of Independence.
Fact 3: It's Scrabble Day
Word enthusiasts unite on April 13th, as it celebrates International Scrabble Day. April 13th was chosen as it’s the birthday of Alfred Mosher Butts, the inventor of this classic board game.
Fact 4: The Release of The Beatles' "Let It Be"
Music history was made on April 13th, 1970, when The Beatles released their final studio album, 'Let It Be'. Though the album was accompanied by tensions and split among the band members, it remains a classic.
Fact 5: Foundation of The American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals
On April 13th, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded. This tremendously influential organization has been protecting animals from cruelty and promoting their welfare for over 150 years.
Fact 6: The Sidney Opera House Found its Architect
It was on April 13, 1957, that Danish architect Jorn Utzon won the international competition to construct Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House, beating over 200 other entries.
Fact 7: First Regular Season MLB Game Outside the US
The first regular season Major League Baseball game outside the United States and Canada was played on April 13, 1996, in Monterrey, Mexico.
Fact 8: April 13th Shares Same Day Celebrations Worldwide
April 13th is celebrated as Vaisakhi, or the harvest festival, in India and Baishaki in Bangladesh and Nepal. It is recognized as the start of the new year by these communities.
Fact 9: The Discovery of The RMS Titanic
On April 13th, 1986 a team led by Robert Ballard discovered the wreckage of the Titanic. The ill-fated ship had sunk 73 years earlier and this discovery shed new light on the tragic event.
Fact 10: Satellites Spoted Black Hole 'Chorus'
On April 13th, 2015, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other satellites detected the first-ever ‘chorus’ of black holes, thus leading to further understanding about these astronomical phenomena.
Fact 11: Nintendo Launched its First Game Console in North America
Nintendo launched its very first game console, called the Famicom, in North America on April 13, 1985.
Fact 12: Voyager 1 Detects Interstellar Space
On April 13th, 2013, Voyager 1, a robotic spacecraft sent to study the outer Solar System, became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space.
Fact 13: The James Webb Space Telescope's Secret
The biggest space telescope ever built, the James Webb Space Telescope, is internally coded as April 13 because it's designed to explore celestial bodies 13.5 billion light years away, corresponding to around April 13 on the cosmic calendar.
Fact 14: The Longest Human Spaceflight
In 2015, American astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko launched into space to begin a record-breaking year in space. Around April 13 makes the halfway point of their journey.
Fact 15: The First Woman Competes in The Boston Marathon
On April 13th, 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. She registered under the gender-neutral name of "K.V. Switzer" and made history in the process.
Fact 16: Construction of the Berlin Wall Begins
On April 13th, 1962, construction began on the Berlin Wall. This pessimistic symbol of divided Germany stood for nearly 30 years before its fall in 1989.
Fact 17: First Stanley Cup Game Streamed Live on the Internet
April 13th, 2008, marked a digital milestone in sports. This was the day of the first live streaming of a Stanley Cup game on the internet, opening up the potential of sports broadcasting online.
Fact 18: April 13th is a Great Day for Nature
April 13th occurs in the prime of spring time in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a great day to observe nature's transition and marvel at the change of seasons.
Fact 19: Release of The Doors Debut Album
April 13, 1967, also marked a significant day in music history as the legendary rock band The Doors released their debut, self-titled album.
Fact 20: The Peanuts' Character, Snoopy, is Honored
On April 13th, 2019, The Kennedy Center announced that Snoopy, the popular Peanuts' character, would be an honoree at the inaugural Kennedy Center Honors for Children's Literature, commemorating his impact on popular culture.