What Happened on February 1?

February 1 is National Freedom Day — honoring Lincoln's step toward ending slavery. It's also the day four college students sat down for justice at a Woolworth lunch counter!

• 1865 — Lincoln signs the joint resolution proposing the 13th Amendment

  President Lincoln put his signature on the resolution that would become the 13th Amendment — abolishing slavery in the United States. Read the full story →

• 1960 — The Greensboro Four launch the sit-in movement

  Four North Carolina A&T freshmen asked for coffee at a whites-only Woolworth counter — and stayed seated until closing, sparking sit-ins across the South. Read the full story →

• 1979 — Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years of exile

  Greeted by millions of supporters, Khomeini's return sealed Iran's Islamic Revolution and reshaped Middle Eastern politics for decades. Read the full story →

• 2003 — Space Shuttle Columbia breaks apart during reentry

  Columbia and its seven astronauts were lost minutes before landing when hot gases entered a wing damaged at launch — leading NASA to fundamentally rethink safety. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Langston Hughes (1901–1967) · Clark Gable (1901–1960) · Lisa Marie Presley (1968–2023) · Boris Yeltsin (1931–2007)

Days & observances

National Freedom Day · Decorating With Candy Day · National Get Up Day