What Happened on March 19 in History?
March 19 has been a pivotal date for major military conflicts, civil rights milestones, and the legal foundations of American pastimes like gambling and timekeeping.
Major Historical Events
Iraq War Invasion (2003): President George W. Bush announced the start of military operations in Iraq in a televised address to the nation.
Texas Western’s Historic Win (1966): In a landmark moment for civil rights in sports, the Texas Western Miners became the first NCAA basketball team to start five Black players in a championship game, defeating top-ranked Kentucky 72–65.
Nevada Legalizes Gambling (1931): Governor Fred B. Balzar signed a measure making Nevada the first U.S. state to legalize gambling as a way to combat the economic effects of the Great Depression.
Standard Time & DST (1918): The U.S. Congress established official time zones and approved Daylight Saving Time for the first time.
Attack on the USS Franklin (1945): During WWII, a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier off the coast of Japan, killing over 700 service members in one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. ship.
Sagrada Família Groundbreaking (1882): The first stone was laid for the Basilica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain.
Culture & Science
Academy Awards Televised (1953): The 25th Oscars ceremony was the first to be broadcast on television, with The Greatest Show on Earth winning Best Picture.
C-SPAN Debut (1979): The U.S. House of Representatives began broadcasting its daily floor proceedings on the new C-SPAN network.
Bob Dylan’s Debut (1962): Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan released his self-titled debut album on Columbia Records.
First Footage Recorded (1895): Auguste and Louis Lumière recorded their first film footage using their newly patented cinematograph.
Notable Births & Deaths
Births: Lawman Wyatt Earp (1848), explorer David Livingstone (1813), and actors Glenn Close (1947) and Bruce Willis (1955).
Deaths: Scientific giant Sir Isaac Newton (1727), legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads (1982), sci-fi visionary Arthur C. Clarke (2008), and "The Gambler" singer Kenny Rogers (2020).
