What happened in November 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in November 1985, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Nov 1🌍 Queen Visits Grenada – Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Grenada, symbolizing the end of a discordant chapter in the history of the former British colony.
- Nov 2🏗️ Construction Spending Surges – Spending on new construction rose 1.9% in September, marking the biggest gain in six months, according to government reports.
- Nov 3🌍 Reagan-Gorbachev Summit – Optimism grows for the upcoming Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Geneva as both sides prepare proposals ahead of the November 19-20 meeting.
- Nov 4🔬 Biotechnology Aids Farming – Advances in agricultural sciences could help the U.S. regain lost ground in world trade, according to a Washington official.
- Nov 5🌍 Lessons from Quake – The September earthquake in Mexico, which killed over 7,000, provided crucial insights for future building design and urban planning.
- Nov 6🗿 Lenin Statue Unveiled – Mikhail S. Gorbachev unveiled a 70-foot statue of Lenin in Moscow, marking a significant event in Soviet history.
- Nov 7🚀 Shuttle Returns Safely – The space shuttle Challenger landed safely after a weeklong scientific mission, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.
- Nov 8🏥 Drug Approved for Sale – A drug to suppress dangerously irregular heartbeat has been approved by the FDA for sale in the United States.
- Nov 9🎨 Sao Paulo Art Show – The Sao Paulo biennial art exhibition showcases 2,400 works by 700 artists from 46 countries, reaffirming its status as Latin America's largest artistic event.
- Nov 10🏛️ World's Fair Novel – E. L. Doctorow's 'World's Fair' blends fiction and memoir, reflecting his Bronx upbringing in the 1930s.
- Nov 11🏆 Kasparov Wins Championship – Gary Kasparov officially became the world chess champion, highlighting a shift in his approach to the game.
- Nov 12🪦 Vietnam Memorial Update – The Pentagon will add 96 names to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, recognizing combat-related deaths not previously included.
- Nov 13🏛️ Monet Painting Auctioned – Claude Monet's ''Haystack in the Fog'' sold for over twice the expected price at Christie's auction, highlighting its historical significance.
- Nov 14🛩️ Laser Communication Test – The Pentagon successfully transmitted messages via laser light from an airplane to a submarine, marking a significant technological advancement.
- Nov 15🌋 Volcano Eruption Disaster – A volcanic eruption in Colombia caused catastrophic mudslides, feared to have killed 15,000 people and injured thousands more.
- Nov 16🗺️ Britain-Ireland Accord – Britain and Ireland signed a treaty giving Dublin a consultative role in Northern Ireland, marking a significant step in peace efforts.
- Nov 17🌋 Colombia Volcano Eruption – The Nevada del Ruiz volcano erupted, causing mudslides that buried towns, resulting in over 21,000 deaths or missing persons.
- Nov 18🌍 Ganges Pact to Sign – Bangladesh's Irrigation Minister heads to New Delhi to finalize a three-year agreement on sharing Ganges River waters.
- Nov 19🚀 Voyager 2 Spots Rings – Voyager 2 detects the largest of Uranus's nine rings, enhancing our understanding of the outer planet's structure.
- Nov 20🌍 Reagan Meets Gorbachev – President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev held a four-hour meeting in Geneva, described as a 'good atmosphere.'
- Nov 21🌋 Volcano Rescue Ends – The search for survivors of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano eruption is winding down, with only small teams continuing efforts.
- Nov 22🌍 Geneva Summit Concludes – President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev end their summit in Geneva, expressing hope for improved U.S.-Soviet relations despite no major breakthroughs.
- Nov 23🌍 Gorbachev Returns Home – Mikhail Gorbachev returned to Moscow with optimism following his meetings with President Reagan, signaling potential easing of tensions.
- Nov 24🚀 Space Photography Exhibit – NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory presents '25 Years of Space Photography' at I.B.M. Gallery, showcasing over 100 significant images.
- Nov 25🎭 Children's Peace Concert – A procession of children marched through the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, singing songs of peace with colorful banners and origami cranes.
- Nov 26🗽 New Torch for Liberty – A new torch was installed on the Statue of Liberty, shining brightly above New York Harbor, marking a significant restoration milestone.
- Nov 27📚 Rare Manuscript Auctioned – A long-lost illuminated Carolingian manuscript sold for over $2 million at Sotheby's in London, exceeding expectations.
- Nov 28🚀 Shuttle Orbiting Smoothly – The flight of the space shuttle Atlantis continues without issues, marking one of NASA's smoothest missions ever.
- Nov 29🗽 Statue of Liberty Auction – A 4-foot-5 1/2-inch model of the Statue of Liberty is set to be auctioned, expected to sell for over $125,000, a record for such items.
- Nov 30🏦 Bank Opens in China – China's first joint-venture bank, Xiamen International Bank, opened in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone, marking a significant economic milestone.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →
Born in November? Pick the day
Every birthday in November has its own On This Day in Headlines book: