What happened in May 1983?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1983, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1🎨 Mozart Work Premiered – A new work by Mozart is set to be premiered, celebrating the composer’s early virtuosity and influence across Europe.
- May 2🌍 Reagan Visits Memorial – President Reagan visited the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, honoring the names of 57,939 dead and missing soldiers.
- May 3🌍 Peru Flood Disaster – More than 50 people feared dead after a flash flood swept over a bridge on the Pan-American Highway in northern Peru.
- May 4🌍 Largest University Gift – Louisiana State University received a $125 million donation, the largest ever to an educational institution, from oil executive C.B. Pennington.
- May 5🌍 London Garden Opens – After 310 years, the Chelsea Physic Garden in London, a rare plant enclave, opens to the public, revealing its historical treasures.
- May 6🎨 Christo's Vision Unfolds – Artist Christo contoured 11 islands in Biscayne Bay with 200-foot-wide pink fabric skirts, attracting attention in Miami.
- May 7🏇 Kentucky Derby Favorites – The 109th Kentucky Derby is set, with many horses having a legitimate chance to win, creating an exciting race atmosphere.
- May 8🏇 Sunny's Halo Wins Derby – Sunny's Halo, once a troubled colt, triumphs in the 109th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, marking a remarkable comeback.
- May 9🎭 Berlioz's 'Cellini' Concert – Berlioz's opera 'Cellini' was performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, showcasing the duality of French opera traditions.
- May 10⛵ Frenchman Sets Sailing Record – Philippe Jeantot of France wins the BOC Challenge, the first organized single-handed race around the world, setting a new solo sailing record.
- May 11🏛️ Solzhenitsyn Receives Prize – Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn received the 1983 Templeton Prize at Buckingham Palace for his contributions to religion.
- May 12🔬 New Atomic Particle Detected – An international team at CERN has reportedly detected the last of three particles believed to transmit the weak force in subatomic reactions.
- May 13🌍 Highway to Big Sur Reopens – The storm-battered Coast Highway reopened between Carmel and Big Sur, reconnecting the rugged coastal region after months of isolation.
- May 14✈️ Pan Am Accepts Blame – Pan American World Airways and the U.S. government accepted responsibility for a jet crash that killed 154 people in Kenner, Louisiana.
- May 15🌍 Flooding in Indonesia – Flood waters inundated the Conoco Oil Company's main plant in Irian Jaya, forcing evacuation of workers with substantial damage reported.
- May 16🏆 Javelin Record Set – Tom Petranoff set a new javelin world record with a throw of 327-2, surpassing the previous mark by nearly 10 feet.
- May 17🌌 Comet Passes Close – As comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock recedes from its close encounter with Earth, another comet is expected to pass within six million miles on June 12.
- May 18🏆 Islanders Win Fourth Cup – The New York Islanders secured their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, marking a historic achievement.
- May 19🌋 Mount St. Helens Monument – Officials declared 110,000 acres around Mount St. Helens a national monument, marking the third anniversary of the volcanic eruption.
- May 20🖼️ Buddhism Blooms in Tibet – Buddhism is experiencing a revival in Tibet, with pilgrims visiting monasteries to offer yak butter and participate in religious practices.
- May 21🏛️ Pope Visits Milan – Pope John Paul II began his first papal visit to Milan since 1418, amid heavy security and rain.
- May 22🏛️ Oldest Rocks Found – Geologists in Western Australia discovered grains of rock dating back 4.1 to 4.2 billion years, the oldest ever found on Earth.
- May 23🚀 Viking 1 Silent – The Viking 1 lander on Mars remains unresponsive after scientists failed to re-establish contact with the spacecraft.
- May 24🔬 Possible Distant Planet – A swirling gaseous object discovered near a young star may be the first planet seen outside our solar system, according to an astronomer.
- May 25🏛️ Capitol Expansion Debate – The debate over extending the West Front of the U.S. Capitol continues, with preservationists arguing against architectural changes.
- May 26🌊 Earthquake Hits Japan – A major earthquake struck northern Japan, causing a huge sea wave that swept dozens of people, including schoolchildren, into the Sea of Japan.
- May 27🚀 Scientific Satellite Lofted – A European Space Agency satellite for studying X-ray sources was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Delta rocket.
- May 28🔬 Human Egg Development – Scientists created an eight-cell human embryo from an unfertilized egg, marking a significant breakthrough in reproductive biology.
- May 29🏛️ Reagan Opens Summit – President Reagan opened a summit conference of major industrial democracies, discussing arms negotiations with allies.
- May 30🌋 Volcano Erupts in Iceland – A volcano erupted under the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland, raising fears of flooding from the Skeidhara River.
- May 31🔬 Artificial Vaccine Breakthrough – Scientists tested artificial vaccines for diseases like hepatitis and polio, potentially revolutionizing public health.
Happy Birthday! 1983 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1983 in real headlines. See the 1983 book →