28 fun facts for October, 21

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
<< October, 20
October, 22 >>
Summary
Some of the fun facts that have occurred on October 21 include the celebration of National Reptile Awareness Day, Thomas Edison's successful electric incandescent lamp test, the opening of the Sydney Opera House, and the launch of the Apollo 7 spacecraft. The day is also marked by numerous milestones in history, arts, and science.
28 Fun facts
  1. October 21 is National Reptile Awareness Day in the United States. It is a day dedicated to promoting awareness of reptiles and their natural habitats, and the importance of reptiles in ecosystems across the globe.
  2. In 1805, the famous naval engagement known as the Battle of Trafalgar took place on October 21. It was a decisive victory for the British Royal Navy under the command of Admiral Lord Nelson, against the combined French and Spanish fleet.
  3. In 1879, American inventor Thomas Edison successfully tested an electric incandescent lamp with a carbon filament on October 21. This breakthrough paved the way for the widespread use of electric lights.
  4. Apple Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom on October 21. The day is dedicated to appreciating and promoting the variety of apples and orchards present in the UK.
  5. On October 21, 1945, women in France voted for the first time in the national parliamentary elections. This was a significant milestone for women's suffrage in the country.
  6. In 1959, the iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City opened its doors to the public on October 21. The museum, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, houses an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
  7. On October 21, 1967, tens of thousands of protesters marched on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate against the Vietnam War. This was one of the largest protests in U.S. history.
  8. In 1983, the 17th General Conference on Weights and Measures held on October 21, adopted the meter as the official unit of length, making it the standard measure around the world.
  9. The Sydney Opera House, considered an architectural marvel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October 21, 1973.
  10. October 21, 1956, marked the start of the first ever Cannes Television Festival. This event showcases new television shows, movies, and documentaries from around the world.
  11. On October 21, 1966, a coal mining disaster occurred in the Welsh village of Aberfan. A landslide buried a school and several houses, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
  12. In 1988, Formula One racer Ayrton Senna won his first of three World Championships on October 21. He would go on to become one of the most renowned racing drivers in history.
  13. On October 21, 1950, Chinese forces invaded Tibet, marking the beginning of the Chinese annexation of the region.
  14. In 1975, Elton John became the first musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 21.
  15. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial was unveiled in France on October 21, 1936, to commemorate Canadian soldiers who died during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I.
  16. In 1908, the first double-decked streetcar service began operation in Seattle, Washington, on October 21.
  17. On October 21, 1917, the first U.S. soldiers entered combat during World War I, near the French village of Bathelémont.
  18. INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room in Sydney on October 21, 1997. His death was ruled as suicide.
  19. On October 21, 2003, the Concorde supersonic airliner made its last commercial flight, from New York to London, before being retired from service.
  20. In 1911, jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie was born on October 21. He had a significant impact on the development of popular music, particularly bebop and Afro-Cuban jazz.
  21. On October 21, 1915, the first transatlantic radiotelephone voice message was transmitted, between Arlington, Virginia, and Paris.
  22. In 1968, NASA launched the Apollo 7 spacecraft on October 21, marking the first manned test flight of the new lunar module intended for the Apollo program.
  23. The iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial, depicting the faces of four U.S. presidents, was completed on October 21, 1941.
  24. In 1964, the Japanese film "Woman in the Dunes" premiered on October 21. It went on to become a classic of world cinema and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
  25. On October 21, 2011, Muammar Gaddafi, the former dictator of Libya, was captured and killed by rebel forces during the Libyan Civil War.
  26. In 2013, Oscar Hijuelos, the first Hispanic-American author to win a Pulitzer Prize for his novel "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love," passed away on October 21.
  27. Indian actor and film producer, Amitabh Bachchan, widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema, was born on October 21, 1942.
  28. In 2003, actor and director Fred Berry, best known for his role as Rerun on the TV series "What's Happening!!" passed away on October 21.

Browse all the fun facts per month