What happened in February 1988?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1988, 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🎶 Concert for Rieti – A concert honoring composer Vittorio Rieti's 90th birthday will be held by the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble at Merkin Concert Hall.
- Feb 2🏈 Super Bowl XXII Victory – The Washington Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII, marking a significant achievement in NFL history.
- Feb 3🏅 U.S. Bobsled Innovations – U.S. bobsled teams may challenge top competitors at the Winter Games in Calgary due to new sled designs and engineering advancements.
- Feb 4🧬 Gene Defect Discovered – Scientists identified a genetic defect affecting 10% of white Americans causing adverse drug reactions, marking a significant medical breakthrough.
- Feb 5🔬 AIDS Virus Discovery – Scientists prove the AIDS virus can directly infect colon and rectum cells, shedding light on transmission and chronic diarrhea in victims.
- Feb 6🏅 Olympic Villages Opened – Juan Antonio Samaranch officially opened the Olympic villages for the Calgary Olympics, accommodating 1,700 athletes in near-zero temperatures.
- Feb 7🏅 Olympics Begin in Calgary – The 15th Winter Olympics opened in Calgary, Alberta, featuring athletes from 57 nations parading in the opening ceremony.
- Feb 8🌊 Floods in Brazil – Floods and mudslides in Rio de Janeiro state have resulted in at least 127 fatalities, according to civil defense officials.
- Feb 9🌍 Samaranch Blasts Drugs – IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch criticizes drug use in sports and nations boycotting the Olympics at the 93rd session.
- Feb 10🎭 Broadway's 'Serious Money' – Caryl Churchill's 'Serious Money' opens on Broadway, blending humor with themes of greed in a neo-Restoration comedy.
- Feb 11🏅 Olympic Training Begins – Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switzerland recorded the fastest time in the first men's downhill training run for the XV Olympic Winter Games.
- Feb 12🎨 Jennifer Bartlett Exhibition – Artist Jennifer Bartlett showcases new works at Paula Cooper Gallery, featuring large canvases and sculptural re-creations.
- Feb 13🏅 Olympics Flag Bearer – Biathlete Lyle Nelson, 39, was chosen to carry the American flag during the opening ceremony of the XV Olympic Winter Games.
- Feb 14🏅 Olympics Open in Calgary – The XV Olympic Winter Games officially opened in Calgary, Canada, with a grand ceremony led by Governor General Jeanne Sauve.
- Feb 15🏅 Russian Wins Cross-Country – Vida Ventsene won the women's 10-kilometer cross-country ski race, earning the first gold medal of the Winter Games in Calgary.
- Feb 16🚢 Nuclear Carrier Launched – The $2.7 billion nuclear aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was launched, marking a significant addition to the U.S. Navy's fleet.
- Feb 17🔬 Wider Use of AIDS Drug – Federal health officials approved wider use of an experimental drug to treat AIDS patients suffering from pneumonia.
- Feb 18🌍 Pact to Protect Ozone – An international agreement aimed at protecting the upper atmosphere from harmful radiation was sent to the Senate for approval.
- Feb 19🏅 Olympic Luge Sweep – Steffi Walter led an East German sweep in the women's Olympic luge race, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
- Feb 20🎭 Musical Re-Creates Slum – A musical depicting the razed District Six neighborhood in Cape Town has become a major success, highlighting apartheid's impact.
- Feb 21🎉 Boitano Wins Gold – Brian Boitano won the Olympic gold medal in figure skating, marking the first gold for the U.S. in the XV Olympic Winter Games.
- Feb 22🏅 Olympic Medal Winners – Medals awarded in various events at the Winter Olympics include gold for Franck Piccard in men's Super G and Anita Wachter in women's combined.
- Feb 23🔬 Skin's Active Role – Scientists discover human skin is a complex organ that produces hormones and enzymes, impacting overall health.
- Feb 24🏅 '88 Winter Olympics Medalists – Frank-Peter Roetsch, Matti Nykaenen, and Natalya Bestemianova win gold medals at the Winter Olympics, showcasing athletic excellence.
- Feb 25🌐 UN Peacekeeping Expansion – The United Nations announced a significant increase in its peacekeeping forces to stabilize conflict areas.
- Feb 26🏅 Soviet Skiers Sweep – Tamara Tikhonova led a Soviet medal sweep in the women's 20-kilometer race, the final women's cross-country event of the Winter Olympics.
- Feb 27🏅 Soviet Hockey Gold – The Soviet Union secured the Olympic gold medal in hockey, celebrating their victory with jubilant embraces on the ice.
- Feb 28🏅 Tomba Captures 2d Gold – Alberto Tomba of Italy won his second gold medal at the Winter Olympics, igniting celebrations at the base of Mount Allan.
- Feb 29🏅 Dutch Skater Wins Gold – Yvonne van Gennip of the Netherlands won her third gold medal in speed skating at the XV Olympic Winter Games, breaking her own world record.
Happy Birthday! 1988 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1988 in real headlines. See the 1988 book →