What happened in February 1983?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1983, 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🏈 Super Bowl XVII Recap – The Washington Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII, marking a significant moment in NFL history.
- Feb 2🌍 OPEC Oil Price Threat – Four Arab OPEC members threaten to cut oil prices by $4 a barrel unless production ceilings are accepted by other members.
- Feb 3❤️ Artificial Heart Milestone – Dr. Barney B. Clark took steps and pedaled an exercycle, marking significant progress in his life with an artificial heart.
- Feb 4🌋 Mt. St. Helens Erupts – Mount St. Helens erupted with two explosions, sending ash 100 miles away and mud flows down its slopes, ending its longest quiet period since 1980.
- Feb 5🔬 Mozart's Symphony Discovered – Mozart's earliest symphony, composed at age 9, has been authenticated and will be performed in Denmark in March or April.
- Feb 6🏗️ South Street Seaport Expansion – The South Street Seaport is set for major construction, enhancing its status as a leading urban maritime attraction by summer 1984.
- Feb 7🌋 Mount St. Helens Alert – Scientists warn that Mount St. Helens may erupt again within two weeks, with increased seismic activity and gas emissions detected.
- Feb 8🔬 Einsteinium Properties Measured – Scientists have successfully measured the chemical and physical properties of einsteinium, a highly radioactive metal.
- Feb 9🌊 Japan Signs Sea Treaty – Japan became the 119th country to sign the Law of the Sea Convention in Jamaica, marking a significant step in international maritime law.
- Feb 10🏅 Olympic Medal Minted – The first U.S. Olympic silver-dollar coin was minted today at the San Francisco Assay Office, marking a significant event for collectors.
- Feb 11🔬 IMF Near Accord – Financial leaders neared agreement on a 50% increase in International Monetary Fund resources for countries in need.
- Feb 12🌍 IMF Increases Lending Pool – The International Monetary Fund agreed to increase its lending pool by $32.5 billion to assist debtor nations facing economic challenges.
- Feb 13🏛️ New Marrow Technique – Scientists report a new bone marrow transplant technique that could make treatment for leukemia and anemia more accessible.
- Feb 14🏃 Seko Wins Tokyo Marathon – Toshihiko Seko won the Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2 hours 8 minutes 38 seconds, marking the fourth-fastest marathon in history.
- Feb 15💻 Portable Computers Rise – More people are using portable computers for personal communication and accessing information services from home.
- Feb 16🔬 New Sunlight Power Plant – A California power plant using silicon cells to convert sunlight to electricity has become the world's largest of its kind.
- Feb 17🔥 Australian Brush Fires – Gale-force winds fueled brush fires in Australia, resulting in at least 59 fatalities, including 12 volunteer firefighters.
- Feb 18🖼️ French Lithographs Exhibit – A collection of 150 French lithographs by notable 19th-century artists is on display at Associated American Artists until March 4.
- Feb 19🔬 Miss Ashford Sets Record – Evelyn Ashford broke her own world indoor best in the 50-yard dash at the San Diego Indoor Games with a time of 5.74 seconds.
- Feb 20🎹 Claudio Arrau Turns 80 – Pianist Claudio Arrau celebrates his 80th birthday with a recital at Avery Fisher Hall, showcasing his enduring artistry.
- Feb 21🎹 Arrau's 80th Birthday – Claudio Arrau celebrated his 80th birthday with a piano recital at Avery Fisher Hall, showcasing his virtuoso talent.
- Feb 22🌾 Farm Policies Clash – America's agricultural trade tensions with Europe are highlighted by a young French couple's struggles on their small farm.
- Feb 23🏊 Salnikov Lowers Mark – Vladimir Salnikov of the Soviet Union set a new world record in the 1,500-meter freestyle, improving his time by almost two seconds.
- Feb 24🏥 Heart Surgery Broadcast – A doctor successfully performed triple bypass heart surgery on a retired insurance salesman, broadcast live on national television.
- Feb 25🕊️ Greece and Soviet Arms Cuts – Greece and the Soviet Union urged for deep arms cuts, emphasizing the importance of nuclear-free zones in disarmament.
- Feb 26🏛️ Holbein Works Coming – A major collection of Holbein's works will be displayed at the Morgan Library, featuring 70 drawings from Queen Elizabeth II's collection.
- Feb 27🏛️ Indonesia Reopens Temple – President Suharto officially reopened the Borobudur temple after an eight-year restoration effort involving the government and UNESCO.
- Feb 28🏆 Swiss Team Wins Bobsled – Ekkehard Fasser led the Swiss team to victory in the world four-man bobsled championship with a record time.
Happy Birthday! 1983 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1983 in real headlines. See the 1983 book →