A moment in time which stands fixed in the national consciousness. The day the earth stood still. Last Wednesday. Certain dates are burned into our memories for the events which graced them.
The following quiz tests your knowledge of the dates of some important and not-so-important events. When did that happen? Note: each date is used exactly once.
  • On 1788, the United States Constitution took effect with its ratification by the ninth state, New Hampshire.
  • On 1826, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died, in that order.
  • On 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died after being assassinated the night before.
  • On 1881, President James A. Garfield was assassinated. He died of related causes over two months later.
  • On 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated; he would die six days later.
  • On 1939, World War II began with Germany's invasion of Poland.
  • On 1941, the United States declared war on the Empire of Japan.
  • On 1944, Allied Forces began the invasion of occupied France.
  • On 1945, World War II ended with the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri.
  • On 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
  • On 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he would not run for a second full term in office.
  • On 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the surface of the moon.
  • On 1972, Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash in Nicaragua.
  • On 1979, A&P closed their Downers Grove, Illinois store.
  • On 1981, Simon and Garfunkel performed in New York's Central Park.
  • On 1983, the Chicago White Sox defeated Seattle to clinch the American League West title.
  • On 1984, Chicago White Sox pitcher Tom Seaver won two games, including two innings of relief in the longest game in American League history, a 25-inning marathon against the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • On 1986, the Chicago Bears won their first Super Bowl, defeating the New England Patriots in New Orleans.
  • On 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all seven crew members aboard.
  • On 1988, amateur officials worked Game Four of the Wales Conference Finals between Boston and New Jersey.
  • On 1990, puppeteer Jim Henson and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. both died.
  • On 1990, the Chicago White Sox hosted Milwaukee wearing replica 1917 uniforms and without benefit of electronic scoreboards for "Turn Back The Clock" day. Milwaukee won in 12 innings.
  • On 1990, the Chicago White Sox defeated Seattle in the final game at 324 W. 35th Street, Chicago.
  • On 1993, the Chicago White Sox defeated Seattle to clinch the American League West title.
  • On 1994, Naperville North High School won its first boys basketball sectional title, defeating archrival Naperville Central in triple overtime in the final.
  • On 1994, the New York Rangers won the Eastern Conference Finals in a Game Seven double-overtime thriller over the visiting New Jersey Devils.
  • On 1994, Naperville North head math team coach Robert W. Martin, Jr. was one of four killed in a plane crash at Savoy, Illinois, following Penn State's come-from-behind victory over the Illini in Champaign.
  • On 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by a bomb.
  • On 1995, the New Jersey Devils won their first Stanley Cup, sweeping favored Detroit in four games.
  • On 1997, the spring semester began at Lewis University.
  • On 1999, fifteen died in a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
    • Bonus: On 1976, Jason Elliot Benda was born. (Hooray for me.)
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