What happened in April 1964?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1964, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Apr 1🏛️ Eiffel Tower's 75th – The Eiffel Tower celebrates its 75th anniversary as a global landmark, marking its significance in architecture and culture.
- Apr 2🔬 Nuclear Fusion Preview – A light of the future flashed for six millionths of a second during a nuclear fusion experiment at the New York World's Fair site.
- Apr 3🌍 Goulart Deposed in Brazil – João Goulart, Brazil's President, fled into exile following a military coup, marking a significant political shift in the country.
- Apr 4🌪️ Tornado Kills Seven – A tornado struck Wichita Falls, Texas, causing seven deaths, injuring 55, and resulting in extensive property damage.
- Apr 5🌸 Cherry Blossoms Festival – Thousands of tourists flocked to Washington to view the cherry blossoms, expected to peak for the annual festival starting Tuesday.
- Apr 6🗽 Pietà Sailing to Fair – Michelangelo's 'Pietà' begins its sea voyage to the New York World's Fair in a watertight steel container.
- Apr 7🔬 New Printing Technology – Harris-Intertype Corporation introduced a new electronic photographic typesetting system, promising 50% faster operation than existing models.
- Apr 8🚀 Soviet Space Ventures – The Soviet Union announced new manned space missions are in preparation, with astronauts training and new cabin air mixtures tested.
- Apr 9🏛️ World's Fair Preparations – Workers struggle to prepare Flushing Meadow for the upcoming World's Fair, facing challenges due to rain and muddy conditions.
- Apr 10🚀 Soviet Space Memorial – A monument to honor the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin will be erected in Moscow, symbolizing space exploration.
- Apr 11🔬 Fertility Control Advances – Scientists report promising results in immunological methods for controlling fertility at a conference in Atlantic City.
- Apr 12🚀 Titan Shot Ends Testing – The Titan rocket shot at Cape Kennedy marked the end of an era of testing, transitioning to Minuteman missile development.
- Apr 13🏆 Palmer Wins Fourth Masters – Arnold Palmer becomes the first golfer to win the Masters tournament four times, finishing with a score of 276.
- Apr 14🌋 Mt. Etna Erupts – Mount Etna erupted, sending molten rocks 300 feet into the air and showering ash on nearby communities, though no immediate danger was reported.
- Apr 15🌉 Chesapeake Bay Bridge Opens – The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a major engineering feat, opens for commercial traffic, connecting Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore.
- Apr 16🦩 Whooping Cranes Migration – The world's only flock of wild whooping cranes has begun its 2,500-mile spring migration to Canada from Texas.
- Apr 17🎨 Spain's Paintings Arrive – Thirteen paintings, including works by Goya and El Greco, arrived from Spain for the opening of the World's Fair.
- Apr 18🌍 Ohio Woman Completes Flight – Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world, landing in Columbus, Ohio, after her journey.
- Apr 19🏛️ World's Fair Opens – The New York World's Fair opens its gates, showcasing five years of planning and construction, marking a significant cultural event.
- Apr 20🕊️ Pietà Unveiled at Fair – Michelangelo's 'Pietà' was unveiled in the Vatican Pavilion at the World's Fair, receiving a papal blessing amidst a debate over its exhibition.
- Apr 21🌍 World's Fair Opens – The 1964 World's Fair opens in New York, showcasing innovations and cultures from around the globe, despite protests planned by civil rights groups.
- Apr 22🌍 World's Fair Opens – The New York World's Fair opens today, showcasing innovations and attracting 250,000 visitors for festivities and a parade.
- Apr 23🎉 World's Fair Opens – The New York World's Fair opened with a grand parade, showcasing diverse cultures and innovations despite rainy weather.
- Apr 24🌍 Tanganyika, Zanzibar Unite – Tanganyika and Zanzibar signed an agreement to unite as one sovereign state, surprising many in the international community.
- Apr 25🚢 Maritime Traffic Control – World's first open-sea traffic control for ships recommended at a conference in London.
- Apr 26🌍 World's Fair Opens – The New York World's Fair officially opened, showcasing innovations and cultural exhibits, drawing large crowds and international attention.
- Apr 27🏛️ World's Fair Draws Visitors – Thousands combined worship with a visit to the New York World's Fair, highlighting its significance as a major tourist attraction.
- Apr 28🚀 Ropeway Inaugurated – King Mahendra inaugurated a 26-mile ropeway in Nepal, built with U.S. aid, designed for mountainous terrain.
- Apr 29🌍 New Yemeni Constitution – Yemen announces a new Constitution declaring itself an Islamic Arab state, independent and sovereign.
- Apr 30🚀 Space Collision Theory – A report suggests that over half of all meteorites may have originated from a catastrophic collision in space 400 million years ago.
Happy Birthday! 1964 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1964 in real headlines. See the 1964 book →