What happened in October 1987?
The top front-page story of each day in October 1987, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Oct 1🌍 Antarctica Ozone Loss – The ozone shield over Antarctica reached its lowest level ever recorded, raising concerns among scientists about environmental impacts.
- Oct 2📜 Constitution Celebration Opens – The Smithsonian Museum launched ''A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution'' today, focusing on historical reflection.
- Oct 3🌍 California Begins Cleanup – Californians began cleaning up after a recent earthquake, relieved it wasn't the anticipated major quake.
- Oct 4🌍 South Africa Floods – Floods in Natal Province may have killed over 250 people, with officials reporting 174 dead and 86 missing. More rain is forecast.
- Oct 5⚖️ Supreme Court Opens Term – The Supreme Court begins its 197th term with one vacancy, raising concerns over potential deadlocks on key issues.
- Oct 6🌍 Log of Earth's Climate – A cylinder of ice from Antarctica reveals 160,000 years of climate data, linking temperature changes to carbon dioxide levels.
- Oct 7🎶 Digital Audio Tape Launch – Sony's digital audio tape players will debut in West Germany on Oct. 15, marking the first sales outside Japan.
- Oct 8🌍 President Declares Disaster – President Reagan declared a major disaster in Southern California, enabling federal aid for housing and reconstruction after a significant earthquake.
- Oct 9🖼️ Raphael Drawings Exhibition – An exhibition of over 90 drawings by Raphael and his followers opens at the Pierpont Morgan Library, running until January 3.
- Oct 10🗽 Paris Unveils Soutine Statue – A statue honoring artist Chaim Soutine was unveiled in Paris, celebrating the legacy of two prominent artists from the Montparnasse quarter.
- Oct 11🌍 Thatcher Reshapes Britain – Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher outlined her grand design for reshaping British politics at the Conservative Party conference.
- Oct 12🎨 Getty Buys Ensor Masterpiece – The J. Paul Getty Museum acquired James Ensor's masterpiece, 'The Entry of Christ Into Brussels,' enhancing its art collection.
- Oct 13🏆 Twins Capture Pennant – The Minnesota Twins celebrated their victory over the Detroit Tigers, marking a significant turnaround after years of struggle.
- Oct 14🌋 Underwater Volcano Erupts – An undersea volcano erupted beneath a California-based research vessel, causing panic as steam and gas bubbles shook the ship.
- Oct 15📈 Stock Soars on Deal – American Cablesystems' stock surged over 60% after announcing its acquisition by Continental Cablevision for $481.7 million.
- Oct 16🌊 Ferry Sinks in Bangladesh – An overcrowded ferry sank in a river outside Dhaka, leaving about 100 passengers missing, according to officials and witnesses.
- Oct 17🌪️ Storm Kills 13 – A fierce storm in southern England caused winds over 100 mph, resulting in at least 13 deaths and significant disruptions in London.
- Oct 18🏗️ Revival on The Kennebec – Home-building and waterfront redevelopment have surged in Bath, Maine, revitalizing the shipbuilding town after years of lagging behind.
- Oct 19🌪️ Typhoon Strikes Guam – Typhoon Lynn knocked out power on Guam, causing evacuations and damage, but no injuries reported.
- Oct 20📉 Stock Market Plunge – The stock market experienced a historic plunge, with the Dow Jones dropping 508 points, causing widespread panic among investors.
- Oct 21📉 Market Turmoil Continues – The stock market faced another tumultuous day, with record trading volumes and significant declines following Monday's crash.
- Oct 22📉 Stock Market Plunge – The stock market experienced a historic plunge, prompting discussions on economic policies and investor panic.
- Oct 23📜 Brodsky Wins Nobel Prize – Joseph Brodsky, an exiled Soviet poet, won the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for his impactful writing in Russian and English.
- Oct 24♟️ Kasparov Defeated – Anatoly Karpov won the fifth game of the World Chess Championship match, as Gary Kasparov resigned after 38 moves.
- Oct 25📉 Stock Market Crash – The stock market experienced a dramatic collapse, leading to widespread panic and significant financial losses for investors.
- Oct 26⚾ Twins Win World Series – The Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 to clinch the World Series title, marking a significant achievement in baseball history.
- Oct 27🚀 U.S. Titan Rocket Launch – The U.S. successfully launched its Titan rocket, marking the end of two years of consecutive failures in unmanned space missions.
- Oct 28🌍 Soviet Summit Proposal – Soviet Foreign Minister indicates Mikhail Gorbachev is ready for a summit with President Reagan despite ongoing disagreements.
- Oct 29🔬 Air From Dinosaurs' Age – Tiny bubbles trapped in amber for 80 million years reveal the earth's ancient atmosphere, showing significant differences from today's air.
- Oct 30📈 Stock Market Collapse – The stock market collapse reshuffled U.S. trade legislation politics, raising doubts about the future of trade bills this year.
- Oct 31🌍 Soviet-American Summit Planned – A meeting between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev is scheduled for December 7 in Washington.
Happy Birthday! 1987 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1987 in real headlines. See the 1987 book →
Born in October? Pick the day
Every birthday in October has its own On This Day in Headlines book: