What happened in March 1981?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1981, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1🎨 Masterly Drawings Exhibit – The Pierpont Morgan Library showcases an exhibition of European drawings featuring works by renowned artists like Botticelli and Michelangelo.
- Mar 2🌈 Rainbow Over Washington – A stunning rainbow appeared over Washington, D.C., captivating workers during an afternoon storm.
- Mar 3📅 Dr. Seuss Day – Theodor S. Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, celebrated his 77th birthday, with 12 states proclaiming it Dr. Seuss Day in honor of his contributions to children's literature.
- Mar 4🌍 Venezuela Oil Project – Venezuela plans an $8 billion project to develop the Orinoco oil belt, aiming for one million barrels daily by the century's end.
- Mar 5🌍 Much of Greece Struck – A strong earthquake shook most of Greece, causing one death and injuring 30 people. This is the third quake in less than two weeks.
- Mar 6🔬 Future in Solar Energy – Scientists advocate for solar energy as a viable alternative, highlighting its potential in countries with abundant sunshine.
- Mar 7🎈 Balloonist Sets Record – Kris Anderson landed in West Virginia after a nearly 600-mile flight from Minnesota, claiming a record for distance in a hot-air balloon.
- Mar 8🔬 Space Shuttle Repairs – Crucial repairs on the space shuttle Columbia's fuel tank are set to begin, determining its readiness for flight next month.
- Mar 9🎨 Zappa Tribute Concert – Frank Zappa will participate in a musical tribute to Edgard Varese at the Palladium on April 17, honoring his idol from youth.
- Mar 10🔬 Nuclear Cleanup Extended – Three Mile Island's nuclear reactor cleanup is expected to extend until 1988, with reduced risk to workers, according to government specialists.
- Mar 11🌍 Program to Clean Mediterranean – A UN conference concluded with a plan to clean up the Mediterranean Sea, aiming for improved environmental conditions.
- Mar 12🏗️ U.S. Arts Panel Rejects – The U.S. Fine Arts Commission reversed its decision, rejecting a $154 million development project along the Potomac waterfront in Georgetown.
- Mar 13🏆 James Madison Upsets – James Madison University made a memorable NCAA tournament debut, defeating Georgetown 61-55 in the East regional playoffs.
- Mar 14🚀 Soviet Space Mission – Vladimir Kovalyonok and Viktor Savinykh launched aboard Soyuz T4, docking with the Salyut 6 orbital laboratory for an undisclosed mission.
- Mar 15🌋 Mount St. Helens Tours – Tours are being organized to visit Mount St. Helens, less than a year after the volcanic eruptions that forced evacuations.
- Mar 16🎨 Butterfly Collection Donated – A private butterfly collection, one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere, has been donated to the University of Florida.
- Mar 17🌍 Rhinos Reappear in Borneo – Wildlife experts found tracks of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Borneo, a species long thought to be extinct on the island.
- Mar 18🌍 Common Market Aids China – The European Economic Community granted $6.2 million in food aid to China to combat starvation in two provinces.
- Mar 19🏗️ Disaster Declared in Kentucky – President Reagan declared a major disaster in Kentucky, allowing federal funds for repairs after sewer explosions caused significant damage.
- Mar 20🔬 Swiss Nuclear Shelters – Switzerland's civil defense program gains recognition as a model for nuclear fallout shelters in Western Europe.
- Mar 21🏀 Last Shot Decides Games – Eleven NCAA tournament games were decided in the last five seconds, showcasing thrilling finishes.
- Mar 22🏥 Gunman Kills Two – A gunman opened fire in a Kansas City hospital, killing a doctor and a visitor. The shooter remains at large.
- Mar 23🌪️ Brussels Storm Kills Two – Winds up to 65 mph lashed Belgium, resulting in two fatalities from falling trees in Brussels.
- Mar 24🚀 Russian-Mongolian Docking – A Soviet astronaut and his Mongolian copilot successfully docked their Soyuz-39 spacecraft with a Russian space station.
- Mar 25🏦 Zimbabwe's Aid Pledge – Nations and agencies pledge $1.3 billion for Zimbabwe's rural development programs at a conference.
- Mar 26🚀 Shuttle Fuel Tank Test – A critical test of the space shuttle fuel tank at Kennedy Space Center succeeded, paving the way for potential flight clearance next month.
- Mar 27🏛️ Earth Tremor Rocks Greece – A strong earth tremor shook the Gulf of Corinth and Athens, causing panic but no damage or casualties, according to police.
- Mar 28🚀 Space Shuttle Test – The space shuttle Columbia completed its last major scheduled test, awaiting results on the refurbished tank's insulation performance.
- Mar 29🎭 Theater Festival Highlights – The fifth annual Festival of New American Plays showcased 5 full-length plays and 12 one-acters, celebrating American theater's vitality.
- Mar 30🏃 London Marathon Dead Heat – Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen finished in a dead heat for first place at the inaugural London Marathon, witnessed by 1 million spectators.
- Mar 31🩺 Reagan Shot, Surgery – President Reagan was shot in the chest by a gunman after a speech. He underwent surgery, and doctors reported a good outlook for recovery.
Happy Birthday! 1981 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1981 in real headlines. See the 1981 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: