Discover What Happened Today in History

Famous events, birthdays and milestones

National Panda Day: The Greatest Comeback in Conservation

National Panda Day on March 16 celebrates giant pandas and one of conservation's biggest success stories. Wild populations grew from 1,100 to nearly 1,900.

The Escalator: From Coney Island Ride to Everyday Essential

On March 15, 1892, the escalator earned its patent as an inclined elevator. It debuted as a Coney Island amusement ride before changing malls and metros.

Pi Day: How a Boombox Parade Created a Global Holiday

Pi Day began on March 14, 1988 when physicist Larry Shaw led a boombox parade through a San Francisco museum. Today it's a global celebration of mathematics.

How Cher's Believe Accidentally Invented Modern Pop Music

On March 13, 1999, Cher's Believe hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song introduced Auto Tune as a creative effect and sold over 11 million copies.

The World Wide Web: Born From a Frustrated Memo

On March 12, 1989, Tim Berners-Lee submitted a proposal at CERN that became the World Wide Web. His boss called it vague but exciting. He never patented it.

iPad 2: The Tablet That Made Everyone Believe

On March 11, 2011, Apple released the iPad 2 to massive lines worldwide. Steve Jobs surprised everyone by presenting it despite being on medical leave.

Mario Day: How MAR10 Became Gaming's Biggest Holiday

Every March 10, fans celebrate Mario Day because MAR10 spells Mario. The world's most famous plumber started as a nameless character named after a landlord.

Barbie: The $3 Doll That Changed Toys Forever

On March 9, 1959, a $3 doll named after Ruth Handler's daughter debuted at a New York toy fair. A missile engineer built her. Kids made her a global icon.

International Women's Day: The Radical Story Behind March 8

International Women's Day began when 15,000 garment workers marched through New York in 1908. The real origin story is far more radical than most realize.

National Cereal Day: The Bizarre Origins of Breakfast

National Cereal Day on March 7 celebrates breakfast cereal, a health food turned sugary empire. Discover the bizarre origins and surprising facts behind it.

Oreo: The Copycat Cookie That Conquered the World

On March 6, 1912, a Hoboken grocer bought the very first Oreos ever sold. This copycat cookie outsold the original Hydrox and became the world's favorite.

Hula Hoop: The Toy Craze That Conquered the World

On March 5, 1963, Wham-O patented the Hula Hoop after selling 25 million in just two months. The toy craze swept the globe and even got banned in countries.

PlayStation 2: The Console That Won Everything

On March 4, 2000, Sony launched the PlayStation 2 in Japan. It became the best selling video game console of all time with over 155 million units sold.