What Happened on February 23 in History?
February 23 is a date marked by several major military, scientific, and cultural milestones, most notably the iconic U.S. flag raising on Iwo Jima during World War II.
Key Historical Events
Flag Raising at Iwo Jima (1945): During the Battle of Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines reached the summit of Mount Suribachi. They first raised a small flag and later a larger one, which was captured in Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, becoming one of the most iconic images of World War II.
Siege of the Alamo Begins (1836): Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna began a 13-day siege of the Alamo mission in San Antonio, Texas, which eventually resulted in the death of all its defenders.
First Mass Polio Vaccination (1954): The first mass inoculation of children against polio using the vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk began at Arsenal Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Gutenberg Bible Published (1455): Traditionally cited as the date Johannes Gutenberg published the first Western book printed using movable type, sparking a revolution in literacy and communication.
February Revolution (1917): In Russia, mass demonstrations in Saint Petersburg marked the start of the February Revolution, which ultimately led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the end of the Russian Empire.
Plutonium Isolated (1941): Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg and his team at the University of California, Berkeley, first chemically identified and isolated plutonium, a key element for nuclear energy and weaponry.
Guantánamo Bay Lease (1903): Cuba leased Guantánamo Bay to the United States "in perpetuity" for use as a naval station.
Sports & Culture
Speed Skating Legend (1980): Eric Heiden won his record-breaking fifth gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, setting a world record in the 10,000-meter race.
NBA History (2014): Jason Collins became the first openly gay athlete to play in one of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues when he debuted for the Brooklyn Nets.
Music Milestone (1978): For the first time in Grammy history, there was a tie for Song of the Year between Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" and Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life".
National Banana Bread Day: February 23 is recognized in the United States as National Banana Bread Day.
Notable Birthdays & Deaths
Births:
George Frideric Handel (1685): German-British Baroque composer.
W.E.B. Du Bois (1868): American sociologist, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the NAACP.
Steve Jobs (1955): Co-founder of Apple Inc. and pioneer of the personal computer era.
Michael Dell (1965): Founder of Dell Technologies.
Emily Blunt (1983) & Dakota Fanning (1994): Famous film and television actresses.
Deaths:
John Keats (1821): English Romantic poet who died at age 25.
John Quincy Adams (1848): The 6th U.S. President died two days after suffering a stroke on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Stan Laurel (1965): Legendary comedian and half of the duo Laurel and Hardy.
