20 fun facts for July, 28

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
July 28th is a day marked by many historic events, prominent births, and unique celebrations. This date saw the first-ever solar eclipse photo, the birth of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Hugo Chávez, the founding of Lima and Miami, and the celebration of World Hepatitis Day and National Milk Chocolate Day.
20 Fun facts
  1. On July 28, 1851, the first ever photograph showing the total solar eclipse was taken by Johan Julius Friedrich Berkowski, a Prussian photographer. This groundbreaking achievement led to greater knowledge about the sun's corona and further developments in astrophotography.
  2. In 1939, the Sutton Hoo helmet, one of the most iconic archaeological discoveries depicting the Anglo-Saxon era, was discovered on July 28. British archaeologist Basil Brown found the helmet within a burial site in Sutton Hoo, England, that was believed to belong to King Raedwald.
  3. July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, drawing attention to the global health problem of viral hepatitis. Devised by the World Health Organization (WHO), the aim of the day is to raise awareness about hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment.
  4. On July 28, 1868, the United States ratified the 14th Amendment to its Constitution. This important amendment granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and slaves who had been emancipated after the American Civil War.
  5. In 1929, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was born on July 28. Known for her style and grace, she was the wife of President John F. Kennedy and later married Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate.
  6. On July 28, 1973, the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen music festival took place in New York. The festival featured well-known rock bands including The Allman Brothers Band, The Band, and The Grateful Dead, attracting over 600,000 fans.
  7. In 1663, during the English Civil War, the Siege of Gloucester began on July 28. This 26-day siege led by King Charles I against the parliamentary forces holding the city was ultimately unsuccessful, despite its extended duration.
  8. July 28, 2005 marked the date NASA launched the space shuttle Discovery on the first return to flight mission (STS-114) since the tragic Columbia disaster in 2003. This flight marked a critical milestone in the Space Shuttle Program.
  9. On July 28, 1996, the remains of Kennewick Man were discovered on the Columbia River banks in Kennewick, Washington. Archeologists estimate the remains to be over 9,000 years old, and since the discovery, the bones have been the subject of extensive studies and controversial debates.
  10. In 1958, the USS Nautilus, the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine, completed its historic journey under the North Pole's ice cap on July 28. The Nautilus covered over 2,000 miles in just 96 hours.
  11. July 28, 1943 marks the date of "Operation Gomorrah," a British air raid in Hamburg, Germany, during World War II. Although the topic is war-related, the stunning and devastating effect created a firestorm and spurred technological advancements in firefighting and rescue operations.
  12. In 2001, Australian Ian Thorpe broke the world record for the men's 400-meter freestyle on July 28 during the World Championships in Japan. Thorpe completed the race in just 3:40.17, beating the previous record by over two seconds.
  13. The founding of Lima, the capital city of Peru, took place on July 28, 1535. Conquistador Francisco Pizarro established the city, naming it “Ciudad de los Reyes” or “City of Kings,” and today it is home to nearly 10 million people.
  14. On July 28, 1954, Hugo Chávez, later the President of Venezuela, was born. Chávez served as President from 1999 until his death in 2013, and he is remembered for his socialist policies, nationalization of key industries, and strong anti-American stance.
  15. Pixar released the animated film "Ratatouille" in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2007. This popular film tells the story of a Parisian rat who dreams of becoming a chef and the human who helps him achieve his dream.
  16. July 28 is National Milk Chocolate Day in the United States. Annually celebrated, the day encourages people to indulge in their favorite milk chocolate treats and appreciate the contribution of chocolate makers to the culinary world.
  17. In 1896, the city of Miami, Florida, was officially incorporated on July 28. Miami has since grown to become a cultural hub and a popular destination for tourists from around the world.
  18. Netflix Inc. was officially founded on July 28, 1998, by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. Initially a DVD rental company, it has since evolved into a global streaming service and content producer.
  19. On July 28, 1932, the Bonus Army, a group of 17,000 U.S. World War I veterans protesting the non-payment of their bonuses, was evicted by force from their encampment in Washington, D.C. This event influenced the passing of the GI Bill in 1944, which provided support to World War II veterans.
  20. In 1985, on July 28, the serial comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes," created by Bill Watterson, was first published in newspapers. This strip muses on the adventures of a young boy named Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, and it has since become one of the most iconic comic strips of all time.

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