What happened in February 1956?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1956, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Feb 1🔬 Nuclear Power Gains – Vast gains forecast in nuclear power, seen as a basic energy resource for economic expansion.
- Feb 2🏭 Manufacturers' Total Reached – Manufacturers' total reached $317 billion for the year, marking a 13% increase over 1954, with industrial sales at a new high.
- Feb 3⛷️ Albright Wins Gold – Tenley Albright secures a gold medal in Olympic figure skating, marking a significant achievement for the U.S. in the Winter Games.
- Feb 4⛷️ Sailer Wins Alpine Championship – F.I.S. honors Austrian skier as World Combined King for three Olympic scores, marking a significant achievement in winter sports.
- Feb 5🎭 Folk Art Dance Debut – A Yugoslavian dance group impresses audiences with their folk art performance, showcasing cultural heritage and artistry.
- Feb 6⛸️ U.S. Olympic Disappointment – U.S. officials express disappointment over Olympic performance, highlighting figure skaters as top challengers.
- Feb 7🏅 Sudan Joins U.N – The U.N. Security Council approves Sudan's petition for membership, marking a significant step for the new republic.
- Feb 8📜 Last Scroll Unrolled – The final of the seven Dead Sea Scrolls, believed to be an Aramaic version of Genesis, has been unrolled by Hebrew University scholars.
- Feb 9🔬 Atomic Energy's Future – Dr. Rabi emphasizes the importance of peaceful atomic energy for industrial progress and the need for global cooperation.
- Feb 10🌍 Antarctic Rescue Completed – Seven men successfully rescued in Antarctica after a plane failure, reaching Little America six days later, all reported well.
- Feb 11🔬 Record Steel Production – Steel production reaches a record high of 10,811,000 tons, with furnaces operating at 99.1% capacity for the month.
- Feb 12🏛️ U.S.S. Maine Flags Recovered – Navy recovers flags from the U.S.S. Maine, marking the 58th anniversary of its sinking, to honor its historical significance.
- Feb 13🌍 Yugoslavs Resist Soviet Overtures – Yugoslavia resists increasing Soviet pressure for closer ties, maintaining its independent stance amid Cold War tensions.
- Feb 14🏗️ New Construction Record – A forecast indicates construction spending will rise to $60 billion in 1956, marking a significant increase in the industry.
- Feb 15🔬 Surgeons Test Heart Machine – Surgeons are testing a new heart machine on dogs, which may be used in future operations on children.
- Feb 16🔬 Device Sees in Darkness – 'Eva' can capture images in total darkness, utilizing heat radiation to take color pictures at night.
- Feb 17🏛️ British Commons Votes – British Commons votes to end the death penalty, breaking party lines in a significant legislative decision.
- Feb 18⛸️ World Figure Skating Title – Hayes Alan Jenkins wins the World Figure Skating Title, leading a U.S. sweep with Tenley Albright and Carol Heiss following closely.
- Feb 19🌍 U.S. Lifts Arms Ban – The U.S. lifts its ban on arms sales to the Middle East, allowing Arab tanks and parts for Israel, marking a significant policy shift.
- Feb 20🌍 Atoms for Peace Initiative – 'Atoms for Peace' program expands globally, promoting peaceful nuclear energy use and international cooperation.
- Feb 21🔬 Tiny Heart Probe – A new device measures impulses that cause the heart to function, aiding in the study of its electrical forces.
- Feb 22🇵🇰 Pakistan Becomes Republic – Pakistan is declared an Islamic Republic as its new constitution is adopted, marking a significant political change.
- Feb 23🔬 Uranium Released for Peace – President Eisenhower announces the release of uranium valued at a billion dollars for peaceful use, excluding the Soviet bloc.
- Feb 24🔬 Cosmic Showers Disrupt Radio – Global communications affected by solar outbursts, causing disruptions in radio signals but not local broadcasts.
- Feb 25🔬 12 Nations Map Atom Unit – Twelve nations prepare to draft laws for the peaceful use of atomic energy, including the Soviet Union for bilateral pacts.
- Feb 26🏛️ New 'Atom Clock' – New atomic clock technology dates early eras, revealing North America was inhabited 9,000 years ago.
- Feb 27🌍 Gronchi Visits U.S – Italian President Gronchi arrives in the U.S. to seek loans and discuss economic cooperation with American leaders.
- Feb 28🔬 Cancer Theory Proposed – German scientist suggests a new theory that may lead to cancer prevention, tracing cell damage through extensive research.
- Feb 29🚢 Tankers for Wood Pulp – Special ships are being built to transport liquid wood pulp to the West Coast, aiming to reduce costs significantly.
Happy Birthday! 1956 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1956 in real headlines. See the 1956 book →