What happened in February 1977?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1977, 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📈 Gold Price Rises – The price of gold increased while the dollar fell in most West European money markets, reflecting economic shifts.
- Feb 2🏗️ First Nuclear Supertankers – A proposal for constructing the world's first nuclear-powered supertankers has been signed, marking a significant advancement in shipping technology.
- Feb 3🏆 Shot-Put Record Broken – Helena Fibingerova of Czechoslovakia set a new world indoor shot-put record at 71 feet during a tournament in Budapest.
- Feb 4🔬 Fredrickson Retained – Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson will continue as director of the National Institutes of Health, supporting biomedical research under the Carter Administration.
- Feb 5🏛️ Carter's Government Revamp – President Carter's request for reorganization powers sent to Congress, marking a significant political move.
- Feb 6👑 Queen's Jubilee Celebrated – Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee marks 25 years on the throne, celebrated with innovative stamp designs reflecting tradition.
- Feb 7📚 Columbus Schools on TV – Columbus, Ohio, schools closed due to a gas shortage, will provide instruction via TV, radio, and outdoor classes for a month.
- Feb 8🚀 Soviet Manned Spacecraft Launched – The Soviet Union launched a manned Soyuz spacecraft to attempt a new rendezvous with an orbiting space station.
- Feb 9🎨 Young Americans Visit China – Sixteen students from Colorado Academy will be the youngest Americans to visit China, aiming to learn about the country.
- Feb 10🌍 Solar System's Birth – Physicists reveal the Sun and planets were formed from a massive explosion, reshaping our understanding of cosmic origins.
- Feb 11🌍 Carter Weighs Aid Increase – The Carter Administration is developing a strategy to increase development aid to poorer countries to help transfer wealth.
- Feb 12🚀 Soviet Astronauts Experiment – Soviet astronauts aboard Salyut 5 begin tests on the effects of weightlessness on humans, marking a significant milestone in space research.
- Feb 13🏛️ African Festival Ends – The African Festival in Lagos concluded successfully, attracting 60,000 spectators and featuring performances from around the world.
- Feb 14⛵ Dora IV Yacht Race – Dora IV and Imp shared honors in the Southern Ocean Racing Conference's third race, showcasing competitive sailing in Miami.
- Feb 15🚀 Astronauts Test Weightlessness – Soviet astronauts aboard Salyut 5 begin experiments on the effects of weightlessness, marking a significant advancement in space research.
- Feb 16🌍 Sri Lanka Lifts Emergency – Sri Lanka's Prime Minister lifted a six-year state of emergency, releasing political prisoners ahead of upcoming elections.
- Feb 17🔬 Superhot Water Exploration – Scientists begin dives 9,200 feet deep in the Pacific Ocean to study eruptions of superheated, metal-rich water.
- Feb 18🌍 Meteorites Found – American and Japanese scientists discovered a significant number of meteorites on the Antarctic ice sheet, despite skepticism about their mission.
- Feb 19🌍 Uganda Confirms Archbishop's Death – Uganda's radio confirmed that autopsies showed the Anglican Archbishop and two ministers died in a car accident, as previously reported.
- Feb 20🔬 DNA Research Risks – Scientists warn that while recombinant DNA research offers benefits, it also poses significant risks to health and ethics.
- Feb 21🚀 Viking 1 Mars Mission – Viking 1 spacecraft successfully changes orbit to capture close-up images of Martian moon Phobos, sending valuable data back to Earth.
- Feb 22🌍 Drought Threatens California – California farmers face a $3 billion loss due to a severe drought, limiting planting to only a fraction of their land.
- Feb 23🏦 Fed Forbids Bank Ownership – The Federal Reserve ruled against commercial banks owning savings and loan associations, impacting financial regulations.
- Feb 24🏗️ Netherlands Strike Ends – A 16-day nationwide building strike in the Netherlands ended with a wage compromise and improved vacation benefits for workers.
- Feb 25🛢️ Tanker Explodes – A Liberian tanker exploded after leaking crude oil into a 50-mile slick west of Honolulu. Most crew members were rescued.
- Feb 26🔥 Major Moscow Hotel Fire – A major fire raged through the Hotel Rossiya in Moscow, resulting in at least 17 fatalities as firefighters battled to rescue those trapped inside.
- Feb 27🌳 Hope for Chestnut Trees – Plant scientists are encouraged in their search for biological control of the blight that devastated American chestnut trees over 50 years ago.
- Feb 28🌳 Park Safety Campaign – James L. Hecht's campaign for safer national parks began after his son died in a Yellowstone accident, leading to improved safety measures.
Happy Birthday! 1977 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1977 in real headlines. See the 1977 book →