What Happened on July 21?

July 21 is National Junk Food Day — a playful nod to burgers, fries, and treats — on the same date the First Battle of Bull Run erupted in 1861, Apollo 11 blasted off the Moon in 1969, and the final space shuttle landed in 2011.

• 1861 — The First Battle of Bull Run shocks the North and South

  Near Manassas, Virginia, on July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate armies clashed in the Civil War's first major battle — shattering hopes of a quick war. Read the full story →

• 1925 — The Scopes 'Monkey Trial' ends with a guilty verdict

  On July 21, 1925, teacher John Scopes was convicted in Tennessee for teaching evolution — a trial that pitted science against state law. Read the full story →

• 1969 — Apollo 11 lifts off from the Moon

  After walking the lunar surface, Armstrong and Aldrin blasted off in Eagle on July 21, 1969, to rejoin Collins in orbit — the trip home had begun. Read the full story →

• 1970 — Egypt completes the Aswan High Dam

  On July 21, 1970, Egypt finished the Aswan High Dam across the Nile — controlling floods, generating power, and creating Lake Nasser. Read the full story →

• 1983 — Earth's lowest recorded temperature is logged in Antarctica

  On July 21, 1983, Soviet scientists at Vostok Station measured −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F) — the coldest surface air temperature ever confirmed on Earth. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) · Robin Williams (1951–2014) · Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) (1948) · Josh Hartnett (1978)

Days & observances

National Junk Food Day · National Be Someone Day · National Crème Brûlée Day · Racial Harmony Day