April 17 in History

Significant events that happened on this day.

Historical Events

2009

A detailed study revealed that watching SpongeBob SquarePants impairs young children's thinking

University of Virginia researchers found that four-year-olds who watched just nine minutes of the cartoon performed significantly worse on mental func...

1989

The Polish trade union Solidarity was officially legalized after years of government suppression

The communist government's recognition of Solidarity marked a turning point in Eastern European politics. Led by Lech Wałęsa, the union had operated u...

1983

Disney officially opened Epcot's Horizons attraction, celebrating future living

The ambitious dark ride took guests through visions of future life in space colonies, underwater cities, and desert farms. With a 15-minute runtime, i...

1982

Canada officially adopted its own constitution with the signing of the Constitution Act

Queen Elizabeth II came to Ottawa to sign the document that severed Canada's last colonial legislative ties to Britain. Notably, Quebec refused to sig...

1975

The Cambodian Civil War ended when the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh

Major

Pol Pot's communist forces took control of Cambodia's capital, beginning one of history's darkest chapters. Within hours, the Khmer Rouge began forcib...

1970

Apollo 13 returned safely to Earth after a near-fatal oxygen tank explosion in space

Major

After three days of desperate improvisation and problem-solving, astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise splashed down in the Pacific Ocea...

1964

Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world

The Ohio housewife completed her 29-day journey in a single-engine Cessna 180, landing back in Columbus after covering 22,858 miles. She beat out famo...

1937

Daffy Duck made his debut in the Looney Tunes cartoon 'Porky's Duck Hunt'

The screwball black duck appeared as a wild, unhinged character who drove Porky Pig crazy with his unpredictable behavior. Animator Bob Clampett based...

1907

Ellis Island processed a record 11,747 immigrants in a single day

The immigration station in New York Harbor hit its all-time peak processing number as thousands of Europeans sought new lives in America. Inspectors h...

1895

China ceded Taiwan to Japan following the Treaty of Shimonoseki

After losing the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing Dynasty was forced to give up the island of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. This marked the beginnin...

1521

Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms to defend his religious writings

Major

The German monk was ordered to recant his criticisms of the Catholic Church but refused, allegedly saying 'Here I stand, I can do no other.' This defi...

Fun Facts from April 17

2015Places

Lake Michigan turned crystal clear turquoise in April 2015. A Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted something incredible on patrol. Complete century-old shipwrecks sat visible on the lake floor below them. The James McBride was a 121-foot brig that sank in 1857. It rested in 5 to 15 feet of water. Nearby, the Rising Sun wrecked in 1917 with all 32 aboard rescued. The lake holds an estimated 1,500 shipwrecks, and several remain unidentified.

1986Places

The Longest War in History Lasted 335 Years With Zero Casualties — Both Sides Forgot They Were at War

The Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly (off the coast of England) were technically at war from 1651 to 1986 — 335 years. No shots were fired. No one died. In 1985, a Scilly historian contacted the Dutch Embassy to joke about it. The Dutch ambassador flew to the islands and signed a peace treaty, ending a war nobody knew was still happening.

1960Entertainment

Eddie Cochran recorded 'Three Steps to Heaven' just weeks before his fatal car crash in 1960. Released posthumously, it became a #1 hit in the UK.

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