Smoking was banned in all enclosed public spaces in England
The comprehensive ban covered pubs, restaurants, workplaces, and public transport. Similar bans had already been implemented in Scotland, Wales, and N...
July 1 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2008
2004
Saturn's moon Cassini became the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn
After a seven-year journey covering 2.2 billion miles, the Cassini probe successfully entered Saturn's orbit. The mission discovered seven new moons a...
1997
Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty after 156 years of British rule
MajorAt midnight, the Union Jack was lowered and the Chinese flag raised in a ceremony attended by Prince Charles and Chinese President Jiang Zemin. The ha...
1994
Yasir Arafat returned to Gaza after 27 years in exile
The Palestinian leader crossed into the Gaza Strip from Egypt, marking a historic moment following the Oslo Accords. Hundreds of thousands of Palestin...
1984
PG-13 movie rating was introduced in the United States
The Motion Picture Association of America created the new rating after complaints that PG was too lenient and R was too restrictive. The catalyst was...
1979
Sony introduced the Walkman, revolutionizing how people listened to music
MajorThe portable cassette player allowed people to carry their music anywhere for the first time. Initially marketed in Japan as the "Soundabout," it beca...
1968
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed by 62 nations
The treaty aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The United States, Soviet Union, and United Kin...
1961
Princess Diana was born in Norfolk, England
Diana Frances Spencer would become one of the most photographed women in the world after marrying Prince Charles in 1981. Known as the "People's Princ...
1946
The United States detonated the first post-war atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll
Operation Crossroads aimed to study nuclear weapons' effects on naval vessels. The test, called "Able," was the first of two detonations and missed it...
1903
The first Tour de France bicycle race began in Paris
Sixty cyclists embarked on a grueling 1,509-mile race through France in six stages. The event was created by a newspaper to boost circulation and was...
1898
The Battle of San Juan Hill made Theodore Roosevelt a national hero
Roosevelt led his "Rough Riders" volunteer cavalry up Kettle Hill in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. His charge, while somewhat exaggerated in p...
1874
The Philadelphia Zoo opened as the first official zoo in the United States
Despite being chartered in 1859, the Civil War delayed its opening by 15 years. The zoo started with about 1,000 animals and charged an admission fee...
1847
The first adhesive postage stamps in the United States went on sale
The stamps featured Benjamin Franklin on the 5-cent stamp and George Washington on the 10-cent stamp. Before this innovation, recipients paid postage...