From the archives
Classic headlineMan Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Birth of Morgan Freeman (1937) and Lionel Messi born (1987), 50 years apart.
1 / 1 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co →Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Lionel Messi1987- Morgan Freeman1937
24 June in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
No verified events yet for 24 June.
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — June 24
1947 WeirdKenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1880 First ever"O Canada", the present-day national anthem of Canada, was first performed in Quebec City during a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1724 First everOn the Feast of St. John the Baptist, Bach led the first performance of Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, the third cantata of his chorale cantata cycle.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1314 First everIn the decisive battle of the First War of Scottish Independence, Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce defeated English troops under Edward II near Bannockburn, Scotland.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1880 First ever
First performance of O Canada at the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français. The song would later become the national anthem of Canada.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2025The GuardianAdults in Great Britain now spending more time on mobiles than watching TVDaily average for watching all types of screen is now almost 7.5 hours, annual survey for IPA finds
Read on The Guardian →
2016The GuardianDown and out in Petrie, where young people need more than just promisesBellwether federal Queensland seat is a must-win for both Labor and the Coalition if they are to take government, and…
Read on The Guardian →- 1939The New York TimesFIRST DANCE TONIGHT AT DEVON YACHT CLUB
EAST HAMPTON, L.I., June 23.--The first dinner dance of the season at the Devon Yacht Club will be held tomorrow. Amo…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “Kenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Weird
Kenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1880 First ever
"O Canada", the present-day national anthem of Canada, was first performed in Quebec City during a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1724 First ever
On the Feast of St. John the Baptist, Bach led the first performance of Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, the third cantata of his chorale cantata cycle.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 24 June — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
2
1937Birth
Birth of Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman was born. American actor.
1987Birth
Lionel Messi born
Lionel Messi, professional footballer, was born on this day in 1987. Widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Suicide
2016Death
Prince dies
Prince, musician, died on this day in 2016. Fentanyl overdose. Remembered as: Innovative artist known for his eclectic work and flamboyant stage presence.
Accident
1997Death
Diana, Princess of Wales dies
Diana, Princess of Wales, member of british royal family, died on this day in 1997. Car crash in Paris. Remembered as: Global humanitarian and celebrated royal figure.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Accident
2020Death
Kobe Bryant dies
Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.
Famous birthdays
2 this weekToday · 24 June
- Lionel MessiArgentine footballer (born 1987)Born 1987 · 39 years ago today
- Morgan FreemanAmerican actor and producer (born 1937)Born 1937 · 89 years ago today
Coming up this week
Nothing recorded for the next six days.
Day of Recognition24 June
International Fairy Day
A whimsical day celebrating the mythology, folklore, and fantasy of fairies across cultures.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 24 June.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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