What Happened on August 16?

August 16 is National Tell a Joke Day — share a clean laugh! The same date Elvis Presley died in 1977, Klondike gold was found in 1896, and the first official Atlantic cable message crossed in 1858.

• 1858 — The first official message crosses the Atlantic by telegraph cable

  On August 16, 1858, Queen Victoria and President Buchanan exchanged greetings over the first lasting Atlantic telegraph cable. Read the full story →

• 1896 — Prospectors strike gold that sparks the Klondike Gold Rush

  On August 16, 1896, gold found near the Klondike River in Yukon set off a rush that drew tens of thousands north. Read the full story →

• 1948 — Babe Ruth dies in New York

  On August 16, 1948, baseball legend Babe Ruth died — leaving a legacy of home runs that transformed the sport. Read the full story →

• 1960 — Cyprus becomes an independent republic

  On August 16, 1960, Cyprus gained independence from Britain, becoming a new republic in the eastern Mediterranean. Read the full story →

• 1977 — Elvis Presley dies at Graceland in Memphis

  On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley — the King of Rock and Roll — died at his Memphis home, Graceland, at age 42. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Madonna (1958) · Steve Carell (1962) · James Cameron (1954) · Angela Bassett (1958)

Days & observances

National Tell a Joke Day · National Rum Day · National Roller Coaster Day · Elvis Presley Remembrance Day