[Fact 1: World Parkinson's Day]
April 11 is internationally recognized as World Parkinson's Day. It's the day when global attention comes together to focus on fighting Parkinson's disease and supporting those who are afflicted. It's not just scientists and doctors who're raising awareness, but also families, caregivers, and organizations around the world.
[Fact 2: The Launch of Apollo 13]
Apollo 13 was launched on April 11, 1970. It was supposed to be the third mission to land astronauts on the Moon, but it famously failed due to a catastrophic in-flight system failure. However, it did not end in disaster - the incident has been described as a "successful failure" because the crew were restored safely to Earth.
[Fact 3: End of Georgian Civil War]
On April 11, 1993, Georgian Civil War ended. This resulted in the de facto independence of two Georgian regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It was a heavy blow for post-Soviet Georgia and the events are still felt in the country's political landscape.
[Fact 4: The First Janitor-In-Space Flight]
On April 11, 2002, South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth became the second tourist and first-ever Janitor-In-Space to pay his way into orbit. He joined two Russian cosmonauts on a Soyuz spacecraft for a flight to the International Space Station.
[Fact 5: The Launch of YouTube's First Video]
One of the most influential platforms in internet history, YouTube, had its first video uploaded on April 11, 2005. The 18-second video, entitled "Me at the zoo," was uploaded by one of the site's co-founders, Jawed Karim.
[Fact 6: Sudan's President Arrested]
On April 11, 2019, Sudan's long-time president Omar al-Bashir was arrested following months of protests against his three-decade rule. It marked a turning point in Sudan's history and an important step towards democratization.
[Fact 7: Cornerstone Day for the Church of Latter-Day Saints]
April 11, 1853, marks the day the cornerstone was laid for the Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This iconic temple is an architectural masterpiece and central to Mormon faith practices.
[Fact 8: Celebrating National Cheese Fondue Day]
Believe it or not, every April 11th, people from around the nation celebrate National Cheese Fondue Day. This fun and cheesy holiday has an unknown origin but it allows cheese lovers to share their favorite fondue recipes and indulge without guilt.
[Fact 9: The Longest Major League Baseball Game]
On April 11, 1981, the longest major league baseball game was played, lasting 8 hours and 6 minutes. The Chicago White Sox played the Milwaukee Brewers, and the game was called off after 18 innings and finished the next day.
[Fact 10: The Longest Film Ever Made]
On April 11, 2011, Swedish artist Anders Weberg set the world record for the longest film ever made. Titled "Ambiancé," it is 720 hours long (or 30 days) and was released in its full-length version only once.
[Fact 11: Little League Baseball Day]
Little League Baseball Day is celebrated on April 11. It’s a day where youth baseball leagues worldwide are celebrated, and the sport's impact on children’s healthy growth and development is acknowledged.
[Fact 12: Remove "Under God" From Pledge Day]
In Madison, Wisconsin, locals observe April 11 as the "Remove 'Under God' From The Pledge Day". This observance started after a 2008 incident, where the principal of a Madison school was chastised for omitting "under God" during a school event.
[Fact 13: First Woman to Officially Run the Boston Marathon]
On April 11, 1966, Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb became the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon. She was not officially registered because women were not allowed, but she ran anyway and became a symbol of progress and equality.
[Fact 14: Creation of the Catholic Worker Movement]
On this day in 1933, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin published the first issue of "The Catholic Worker," marking the start of a social movement dedicated to fighting for the rights of the marginalized and homeless.
[Fact 15: Death of John Hunter, Father of Scientific Surgery]
On April 11, 1793, renowned anatomist and surgeon, John Hunter died. Known as the Father of Modern Surgery, he established surgery as a scientific discipline through his research and is known for his work on venereal diseases.
[Fact 16: Independence Day of Chad]
In Africa, April 11 is recognized as Independence Day in Chad, as it became independent from France on this day in 1960. The day includes many festivities and is a national holiday in the country.
[Fact 17: Mathematician's Day in Argentina]
In Argentina, mathematicians celebrate April 11 as Mathematics Day since the notable Argentine mathematician Julio Rey Pastor was born this day in 1888. He’s a central figure in the development of mathematics in Argentina and Spain.
[Fact 18: First Major Battle of the American Civil War]
April 11, 1861, marks the day the first major battle of the American Civil War was fought. Known as the Battle of Fort Sumter, it took place in South Carolina and signaled the start of hostilities between North and South.
[Fact 19: Death of Automotive Pioneer Henry Ford]
Automotive pioneer, Henry Ford, died on April 11, 1947. The engineer and industrialist revolutionized manufacturing through the development of the assembly line technique for mass production, making cars accessible to ordinary people.
[Fact 20: Haydn's "The Creation" Premiered in The US]
On April 11, 1800, the masterpiece oratorio by composer Joseph Haydn, "The Creation", premiered in the United States. This occurred in New York City and set the stage for Haydn's music to be recognized in America.