History Happened Today

April 16: The First Voice Ever Recorded

On April 16, 1860, the first human voice was recorded—though it wouldn’t be heard for nearly 150 years.

April 15: The Night the Titanic Went Down

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic, killing over 1,500 people. This episode explores the disaster that changed maritime safety.

April 14: The Night Lincoln Was Shot

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre. This episode explores the night that changed American history.

April 10: When the World Feared Poison From the Sky

On April 10, 1910, Earth passed through the tail of Halley’s Comet and people feared it would release poison gas. This episode explores the global panic that followed.

April 9: The First Long-Distance Phone Call

On April 9, 1877, one of the first long-distance telephone calls was successfully completed. This episode explores how it changed communication forever.

April 8: The “Got Milk?” Revolution

On April 8, 1993, the “Got Milk?” campaign launched and became one of the most iconic ads in history.

April 7: The Day France Tried to Fix Everything

On April 7, 1795, France adopted the metric system, changing how the world measures everything.

April 6: The Day America Entered World War I

On April 6, 1917, the United States entered World War I. This episode explores the events that led to that decision.

April 3: The Rival Who Helped Jesse Owens Win

On April 3, 1936, Jesse Owens received advice from a competitor that helped shape one of the greatest Olympic performances in history.

April 2: The Birth of Morse Code

On April 2, 1792, Samuel Morse was born. This episode explores how his invention transformed communication forever.