A Timeline of Famous Historical Events in February

Feb 10, 2011
Sara McGrath

Groundhog Day - pointshoot

Help children connect past and present by linking exciting and memorable historical events and traditions to the current month.

What happened on a February day in 1865? What happened on a February 29 leap year? What was Sir Walter Raleigh up to on a February day in 1587?

About February

February, the second month in the internationally-accepted Gregorian calendar year, gets its name from the Latin februum for "purification" after the Roman festival of purification held each mid-February at the full moon. However, February is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon.

February is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. February typically has 28 days except on the occasion of a leap year (approximately every four years) when February has one added day. This is necessary to synchronize the astronomical and calendar year (astronomical seasons don't repeat in whole days).

Holidays and Observances in February

February is Black History Month (U.S. and Canada) and National Bird Feeding Month (U.S.).

February 2 – Imbolc (Northern Hemisphere)
February 2 – World Wetlands Day
February 2 – Groundhog Day (U.S. and Canada)
February 3 – Chinese New Year
February 12 – Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (16th U.S. President)
February 14 – Valentine's Day ( Printable Valentines, Crafts, Cards, & Envelopes)
February 15 – Flag Day (Canada)
February 21 – Presidents Day (U.S., third Monday)
February 22 – George Washington's Birthday (1st U.S. President)
February 24 – Flag Day (Mexico)
February 21 – International Mother Language Day
February 29 – Leap Day (Every four years)

Historical Events in February

February 5, 62 AD – Earthquake in Pompeii, Italy.
February 29, 1504 – Christopher Columbus used his knowledge of a lunar eclipse to persuade Native Americans to give him supplies.
February 1, 1587 – Sir Walter Raleigh established the The Roanoke Colony (also known as "The Lost Colony").
February 3, 1690 – The state of Massachusetts issued the first U.S. paper money.
February 1, 1709 – After being shipwrecked on a desert island, Alexander Selkirk was rescued, inspiring the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.
February 4, 1789 – George Washington was unanimously elected as the 1st U.S. president.
February 7, 1795 – The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
February 24, 1831 – The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creak, the first American Indian Removal Act treaty, was proclaimed.
February 1, 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (beyond the Bill of Rights).
February 24, 1868 – The first parade to have floats was staged at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana.
February 18, 1885 – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was first published.
February 2, 1887 – The first Groundhog Day was observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
February 7, 1907 – The large Mud March procession, organized by The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, was held.
February 1, 1918 – Russia adopted the Gregorian Calendar.
February 18, 1929 – The first Academy Awards were announced.
February 6, 1933 – The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was established.
February 7, 1935 – The classic board game Monopoly was invented.
February 7, 1940 – Walt Disney's second full-length animated film Pinocchio premiered.
February 29, 1940 – Hattie McDaniel, as "Mammy" in Gone With the Wind, became the fist African American to win an Academy Award.
February 29, 1960 – Family Circus made its debut.
February 24, 1970 – National Public Radio was founded in the U.S.
February 5, 1971 – Apollo 14 astronauts landed on the moon.
February 18, 1979 – Snow fell in the Sahara Desert for the only time on record.
February 4, 2004 – Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook.
February 15, 2005 – YouTube was launched.

From Walt Disney and Academy Awards to Facebook and YouTube, February hosts many interesting historical events. You can focus on common themes such as literature (i.e., Huckleberry Finn and Robinson Crusoe) and performance arts or government events (i.e., constitutional amendments and women's suffrage) or you can pick and choose a little of everything.

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Source: "BBC: On This Day." news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday, retrieved 30 Nov 2011.