From the archives
Classic headlineRed Tape Holds Up New Bridge
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Red Tape Holds Up New BridgeHall of Fame◆
- 1991Beckhampton JournalThe New York Times◆
- 2019Observer killer sudokuThe Guardian◆
- 2015Daughter wins £164,000 after decade-long legal battle over will with charitiesThe Guardian◆
- 1949The world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production, the de Havilland Comet, had its maiden flight.Wikipedia◆
- 1943As the Surprise Hurricane struck Texas, a United States Army Air Forces pilot made the first reconnaissance flight into a hurricane.Wikipedia◆
- 1974Watergate scandal: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment (for obstruction of justice) against President Richard Nixon.Wikipedia◆
- 1949Initial flight of the de Havilland Comet, the first jet-powered airliner.Wikipedia◆
- 1953Korean War: Cessation of hostilities is achieved when the United States, China, and North Korea sign an armistice agreement. Syngman Rhee, President of South Korea, refuses to sign but pledges to observe the armistice.Wikipedia◆
- 1778The Battle of Ushant, the first encounter between the French and British fleets in the American Revolutionary War, ended indecisively and led to political disputes in both countries.Wikipedia◆
- 1689First Jacobite rising: Scottish and Irish Jacobites defeated Williamite forces at Killiecrankie, Scotland.Wikipedia◆
- 1302Byzantine–Ottoman wars: The Ottoman sultanate gained its first major victory against the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Bapheus in Bithynia.Wikipedia◆
- 1225Saint Mary's Church on Gotland, later to become Visby Cathedral (pictured), was consecrated.Wikipedia◆
- 1866The first permanent transatlantic telegraph cable is successfully completed, stretching from Valentia Island, Ireland, to Heart's Content, Newfoundland.Wikipedia◆
- Red Tape Holds Up New BridgeHall of Fame◆
- 1991Beckhampton JournalThe New York Times◆
- 2019Observer killer sudokuThe Guardian◆
- 2015Daughter wins £164,000 after decade-long legal battle over will with charitiesThe Guardian◆
- 1949The world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production, the de Havilland Comet, had its maiden flight.Wikipedia◆
- 1943As the Surprise Hurricane struck Texas, a United States Army Air Forces pilot made the first reconnaissance flight into a hurricane.Wikipedia◆
- 1974Watergate scandal: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment (for obstruction of justice) against President Richard Nixon.Wikipedia◆
- 1949Initial flight of the de Havilland Comet, the first jet-powered airliner.Wikipedia◆
- 1953Korean War: Cessation of hostilities is achieved when the United States, China, and North Korea sign an armistice agreement. Syngman Rhee, President of South Korea, refuses to sign but pledges to observe the armistice.Wikipedia◆
- 1778The Battle of Ushant, the first encounter between the French and British fleets in the American Revolutionary War, ended indecisively and led to political disputes in both countries.Wikipedia◆
- 1689First Jacobite rising: Scottish and Irish Jacobites defeated Williamite forces at Killiecrankie, Scotland.Wikipedia◆
- 1302Byzantine–Ottoman wars: The Ottoman sultanate gained its first major victory against the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Bapheus in Bithynia.Wikipedia◆
- 1225Saint Mary's Church on Gotland, later to become Visby Cathedral (pictured), was consecrated.Wikipedia◆
- 1866The first permanent transatlantic telegraph cable is successfully completed, stretching from Valentia Island, Ireland, to Heart's Content, Newfoundland.Wikipedia◆
27 July in history
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We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — July 27
1949 First everThe world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production, the de Havilland Comet, had its maiden flight.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1943 First everAs the Surprise Hurricane struck Texas, a United States Army Air Forces pilot made the first reconnaissance flight into a hurricane.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1974 First everWatergate scandal: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment (for obstruction of justice) against President Richard Nixon.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1949 First everInitial flight of the de Havilland Comet, the first jet-powered airliner.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1953 WeirdKorean War: Cessation of hostilities is achieved when the United States, China, and North Korea sign an armistice agreement. Syngman Rhee, President of South Korea, refuses to sign but pledges to observe the armistice.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
- 2019The GuardianObserver killer sudoku
Normal Sudoku rules apply, except the numbers in the cells contained within grey lines add up to the figures in the c…
Read on The Guardian → 
2015The GuardianDaughter wins £164,000 after decade-long legal battle over will with charitiesCourt of appeal increases Heather Ilott’s share of inheritance after she fell out with her mother, who left her entir…
Read on The Guardian →- 1991The New York TimesBeckhampton Journal
For a second summer, farmers across southwestern England are waking to find giant circles and odd, geometric patterns…
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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When was “The world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production, the de Havilland Comet, had its maiden flight.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
The world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production, the de Havilland Comet, had its maiden flight.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1943 First ever
As the Surprise Hurricane struck Texas, a United States Army Air Forces pilot made the first reconnaissance flight into a hurricane.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1974 First ever
Watergate scandal: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment (for obstruction of justice) against President Richard Nixon.
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.
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Viewing 27 July — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
0No recorded births.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
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.
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.
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Famous birthdays
1 this weekToday · 27 July
No famous birthdays recorded for 27 July yet.
Coming up this week
Angelina JolieAmerican actress (born 1975)31 July · born 1975
Celebration27 July
National Sleepy Head Day
A quirky Finnish tradition where the last person in the house to wake up is thrown into water.
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 27 July.
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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