Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, later known as Sir Alfred Hitchcock, was born on August 13, 1899, in Leytonstone, Essex, England. Over the next eight decades, the son of a London greengrocer became the “Master of Suspense,” directing films such as Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo, and The Birds.
While searching for fossils in South Dakota, fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson made a colossal discovery on August 12, 1990. Bones protruding from an eroded bluff proved to be part of an exceptionally complete Tyrannosaurus rex, soon known simply as Sue.
Jackson Pollock died on August 11, 1956, in Springs, New York, at age 44, after a career that had made his unconventional painting methods famous far beyond the art world. In less than two decades, he moved from Depression-era government art projects to the center of the emerging Abstract Expressionist movement.
On August 10, 1861, Union and Southern forces fought the Battle of Wilson’s Creek near Springfield, Missouri, the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. The six-hour struggle ended in a Southern victory, but it did not settle the larger contest for control of the divided border state.
On August 9, 1944, the US Forest Service created Smokey Bear to encourage people to prevent forest fires. The Wildfire Prevention Campaign is the longest-running public service announcement campaign in US history, and Smokey has become an icon recognized around the globe.
On July 20, 1969, the US effectively won the Space Race when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Eagle lunar module on the Moon’s surface.
On January 5, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the creation of America’s first space shuttle, the “world’s first reusable spacecraft.”
On December 27, 1947, Howdy Doody made his television debut on a program called Puppet Playhouse, marking an important moment in early TV history. The cheerful, freckle-faced marionette quickly became one of the first true stars of children’s television. At a time when television itself was still new, Howdy Doody helped shape what kids’ programming could be—and proved that television could be a powerful force in American family life.
Famed American conductor Arthur Fiedler was born on December 17, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts. Best known for his long leadership of the Boston Pops Orchestra, Fiedler transformed classical music from a formal concert hall tradition into an experience enjoyed by millions. Through radio broadcasts, recordings, and outdoor performances, he helped make orchestral music accessible, entertaining, and deeply popular in American culture.
On August 13, 1918, Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the US Marine Corps Reserve. By war’s end, a total of 305 women had enrolled and served in the Marines.
When the Nazis were defeated in World War II, Germany was divided into two countries. Shortly after midnight on August 13, 1961, East German soldiers laid barbed wire and bricks, creating the Berlin Wall.
August 13, 1867, marks the earliest known use of the first stamp produced with a grill, US #79. Grills were added to stamps to prevent their reuse.
Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Ann Mosey on August 13, 1860, in Darke County, Ohio. She was one of the most talented sharpshooters of her day and solidified the image of the American cowgirl.
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