Selina

Written by Selina

Modified & Updated: 04 Mar 2024

Sherman Smith

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

August 1st marks several accomplishments by many individuals, including George R.R. Martin who wrote the first novel of Game of Thrones. However, not all accomplishments should be praised, especially if it’s a notorious heist on the Swedish Royal family. How do the royal crown jewels go missing in broad daylight? August 1st is indeed an intriguing mystery with many “firsts”, such as the first discovery of Venezuela.

Table of Contents

Historical Discoveries And Tragedies

1876: Anne Frank wrote her last diary entry before her family including herself were arrested and sent to concentration camps 3 days later on August 4th. Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in March 1945, shortly before the camp was liberated.

1944: Colorado became the 38th state to join the United States. The Centennial State was named after the Colorado River and its capital is Denver. Colorado is known for its stunning landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains, Mesa Verde National Park, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park

2007: I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed during rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring 145 others. The collapse of the bridge was caused by a design flaw in the gusset plates, which are steel plates that connect the bridge’s steel beams. The weight of the construction equipment and materials on the bridge during its resurfacing work exacerbated the problem, causing the plates to buckle and the bridge to collapse.

daytime view of the I-35W Bridge in downtown Minneapolis with the Mississippi River in the foreground. Summer
Image from Adobe Stock

Scientific Breakthroughs

1498: On his third voyage, Christopher Columbus discovered the South American country of Venezuela. He first spotted the Paria Peninsula, which he called “Punta de la Higa” (Point of the Stench), due to the strong odor of the numerous rivers flowing into the sea. Columbus and his crew landed on the coast and explored the area, eventually coming across the Gulf of Paria and the island of Trinidad. Columbus named the region “Isla Santa” (Holy Island) and claimed it for Spain.

1971: During their Apollo 15 mission to the Moon, astronauts David Scott and James Irwin found a rock that they later named the “Genesis Rock”. They believed that this rock could date back to the Moon’s formation. Analysis of the rock showed that it was about 4.5 billion years old, which is roughly the same age as the Moon itself.

The Moon, Earth’s only natural satellite, and the gravity of which is very slowly slowing our planet down.
Photo by Gregory H. Revera from Wikipedia

Political Events

1589: Henry III of France was assassinated by a fanatical Dominican friar named Jacques Clément in the abdomen, and the king died the following day from his injuries. The assassination was a significant event in the French Wars of Religion and marked the end of the Valois dynasty.

1944: The Warsaw Uprising began as a major operation undertaken by the Polish resistance against the German occupation forces during World War II. The uprising was intended to liberate Warsaw from Nazi control, but it was ultimately unsuccessful and resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 civilians and resistance fighters.

2018: The Swedish crown jewels were stolen from a cathedral in Strängnäs, Sweden, in broad daylight. The thieves made their escape on a speedboat, which they abandoned and set on fire in a nearby lake before escaping in a car. The stolen jewels included two crowns and an orb used for the funerals of King Karl IX and Queen Kristina in the 17th century. Today, the thieves remain at large.

one of the stolen swedish crown
Image from Reddit

Cultural Events

1981: MTV launched its first music video at 12:01 am. The song was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. The launch of MTV revolutionized the music industry by making music videos a mainstream form of entertainment. It also helped to launch the careers of many famous artists and bands by giving them a platform to showcase their music and image through videos.

1992: Nintendo released its popular video game, “Kirby’s Dream Land,” in North America. The game was praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music. It spawned several sequels and spinoffs and helped establish Kirby as one of Nintendo’s most beloved characters, alongside Mario Mushroom from Super Mario Bros.

1996: American author George R.R. Martin published the first novel in his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, entitled A Game of Thrones. The book quickly gained a dedicated following of fans for its complex characters, intricate plotlines, and unpredictable twists. The series has since become a cultural phenomenon ever since.

game of thrones banner
Image from Facebook

Notable Birthdays

  1. Dom DeLuise (1933–2009) – An American actor, comedian, director, and chef. He is best known for his roles in various comedy films, such as “Blazing Saddles”, “The Cannonball Run”, and “Spaceballs.” He also appeared in several television shows, including “The Muppet Show”, and “3rd Rock from the Sun.
  2. Yves Saint Laurent (1936–2008) – A French fashion designer, Laurent is known for popularizing the tuxedo for women, creating the Mondrian dress, and introducing the safari jacket. He started his career at the young age of 17 when he was hired as an assistant to Christian Dior. When Dior unexpectedly passed away, Yves Saint Laurent became the head designer of the company at only 21 years old.
  3. Jerry Garcia (1942–1995) – An American musician, best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, a legendary rock band formed in the 1960s. He was also a prolific songwriter and contributed many of the Grateful Dead’s most beloved songs, including “Truckin'”, “Uncle John’s Band”, and “Touch of Grey”.
  4. Coolio (1963–2002) – An American rapper. He is also known as Artis Leon Ivey Jr. He rose to fame in the 1990s with hit songs such as “Gangsta’s Paradise”, and “Fantastic Voyage”. Coolio has won several awards during his career, including a Grammy.
  5. Tempestt Bledsoe (1973) – An American actress and comedian, Bledshoe is best known for her role as Vanessa Huxtable on the NBC sitcom “The Cosby Show”. In addition, Bledsoe has also hosted her own talk show and has been a spokesperson for several companies.
  6. Jason Momoa (1979) – An American actor and model who is best known for his role as “Aquaman” in the DC Extended Universe films and his role as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, which earned him critical acclaim and a passionate fan following.
  7. Ashley Parker Angel (1981) – An American singer, actor, and television personality, Angel is known as the lead singer of the boy band O-Town, which was formed in 2000 on the reality show “Making the Band”. After the group disbanded in 2003, Angel pursued a solo career and also appeared in a number of television shows and films, including “Wild Things: Foursome”, and “The Perfect Score”.
  8. Jack O’Connell (1990) – An English actor, O’Connell is known for his performances in various films and television series, including “This Is England” (2006), “Skins” (2009), “Unbroken” (2014), “Money Monster” (2016), and “Godless” (2017).

Final Word

Though marked by both triumphs and tragedies, August 1st is a day of great significance. The things that occurred opened up the way to reflection and improvement, and most importantly appreciation for the accomplishments of various individuals. A fun fact, August 1st is also Raspberry Cream Pie Day. So if you don’t know what to do with this information, get a raspberry pie!

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