What happened in April 1986?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1986, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Apr 1🌋 Alaska Volcano Erupts – The Augustine Volcano erupted with its strongest force in a decade, sending ash eight miles high and darkening skies in Homer.
- Apr 2🚀 Challenger Wreckage Found – Part of the Challenger wreckage, including a crucial booster joint, was recovered, aiding the ongoing investigation into the tragic accident.
- Apr 3🕊️ Mideast Marshall Plan Urged – The U.S. and Israel discuss a multibillion-dollar 'Marshall Plan' for the Middle East to promote peace in the region.
- Apr 4🌍 Accord on Chemical Weapons – Negotiators at the Geneva conference reached a preliminary agreement on chemicals for a treaty banning chemical weapons production.
- Apr 5🔬 U.S. Debt Tops $2 Trillion – The U.S. national debt surpassed $2 trillion for the first time, doubling in five years, according to government reports.
- Apr 6⚾ Reds Open Baseball Season – The Cincinnati Reds host the Philadelphia Phillies in the official opening game of the major-league baseball season.
- Apr 7🚀 Shuttle Recovery Efforts – A salvage vessel returned with significant pieces of the shuttle Challenger, including a wing and fuselage section.
- Apr 8🚀 Soviet Space Anniversary – The Soviet Union prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary of manned space flight with new orbital achievements.
- Apr 9🕊️ Reagan-Soviet Summit Plans – President Reagan and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin agreed to lay groundwork for a U.S.-Soviet summit meeting later this year.
- Apr 10🎭 Ballet Premiere Tonight – World premiere of ''Sabattini pour Christofle'' starring Mikhail Baryshnikov at Kennedy Center, choreographed by Karole Armitage.
- Apr 11🌍 Global Wetlands Urged – A report calls for a global program to manage and preserve rapidly dwindling wetlands, highlighting their critical ecological importance.
- Apr 12🌍 Sailing Record Set – Dodge Morgan completed a solo nonstop circumnavigation of the globe, cutting the previous record nearly in half.
- Apr 13🚀 Soviet Space Celebration – The 25th anniversary of manned space flight was celebrated in Gagarin's hometown with parades and festivities.
- Apr 14🕍 Pope Visits Synagogue – Pope John Paul II made history with the first papal visit to a synagogue, embracing Jews as 'our elder brothers' and condemning anti-Semitism.
- Apr 15🌳 Rainforest Reserve Dedicated – Costa Rica's President Luis Alberto Monge dedicated a new nature reserve to protect vital rainforest areas for research.
- Apr 16⛴️ Titanic Survivor Dies – Mortimer Howell Cobb, a Titanic survivor, died at 81, 74 years after the ship sank. He was a member of the U.S. Maritime Service and a croquet champion.
- Apr 17🌋 Mount St. Helens Erupts – Mount St. Helens rumbled back to life, spewing a 25,000-foot plume of ash, marking its first activity in nearly a year.
- Apr 18🌋 Mount St. Helens Erupts – Mount St. Helens belched another plume of ash and gas into the air today, continuing its volcanic activity.
- Apr 19⛵ U.S. Yacht Leads Race – The U.S. maxiyacht Atlantic Privateer has taken the lead in the Whitbread Round-the-World yacht race, with 4,300 miles remaining.
- Apr 20🌍 Vancouver World's Fair – Expo 86 opens in Vancouver, featuring the Prince and Princess of Wales, marking the only official world's fair in North America for decades.
- Apr 21🌋 Mount St. Helens Erupts – Mount St. Helens emitted gas and ash today, marking another episode of normal volcanic activity for the region.
- Apr 22🌍 Texas Independence Anniversary – Texas celebrated the 150th anniversary of its independence from Mexico with music, fireworks, and speeches.
- Apr 23🔬 Silicon Valley Venture – Stephen G. Wozniak and Nolan K. Bushnell plan to collaborate, marking a significant moment in tech innovation.
- Apr 24🎨 Festival of Quilts – The Great American Quilt Festival opens at Pier 92, celebrating the centennial of the Statue of Liberty.
- Apr 25🧬 Protein Found in Alzheimer's – Scientists identified a specific protein in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, potentially aiding diagnosis and understanding of the disease.
- Apr 26🌍 Chernobyl Disaster – The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred, leading to widespread radioactive contamination and significant global health concerns.
- Apr 27🔬 Challenger Investigation Continues – NASA faces scrutiny over safety cuts after the Challenger disaster, raising concerns about its management and accountability.
- Apr 28🏇 Mayan Tomb Discovered – A 1,200-year-old Mayan tomb, royal and untouched by looters, has been discovered in Belize by an American archaeologist.
- Apr 29🌍 Soviet Nuclear Accident – The Soviet Union announced an accident at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine, stating aid is being provided to those affected.
- Apr 30☢️ Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster – The Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Soviet Union is reported to have begun several days prior, releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere.
Happy Birthday! 1986 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1986 in real headlines. See the 1986 book →