What Happened on October 3?

October 3 is National Techies Day — celebrating problem-solvers who build and fix technology — on the same date Germany reunified in 1990, Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving in 1863, Captain Kangaroo premiered in 1955, Britain tested its first atomic bomb in 1952, the V-2 rocket succeeded in 1942, and a famous 1995 verdict gripped world media.

• 1863 — Lincoln proclaims a national Thanksgiving Day

  On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November a national day of Thanksgiving. Read the full story →

• 1942 — The V-2 rocket makes its first successful launch

  On October 3, 1942, German engineers achieved the first successful launch of the V-2 — the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile. Read the full story →

• 1952 — Britain conducts its first atomic test, Operation Hurricane

  On October 3, 1952, the United Kingdom detonated its first atomic bomb in Operation Hurricane off Australia's Montebello Islands. Read the full story →

• 1955 — Captain Kangaroo premieres on CBS

  On October 3, 1955, Captain Kangaroo debuted — a gentle children's TV show hosted by Bob Keeshan. Read the full story →

• 1990 — East and West Germany reunify

  On October 3, 1990, East and West Germany became one country again — ending decades of Cold War division. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Chubby Checker (1941) · Gwen Stefani (1969) · Alicia Vikander (1988) · Gore Vidal (1925–2012)

Days & observances

National Techies Day · German Unity Day · National Soft Taco Day · National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day