We share “This Day in History” every day to help make our readers well-rounded and informed. It offers a chance to learn, appreciate our culture, make better decisions, and see the world from a wider perspective. Through understanding past events, we aim to help readers engage more with the present and future.
  • 20th February, 1792
    The United States Postal Service Act is signed into law by President George Washington, establishing the United States Post Office Department and ensuring efficient mail delivery across the nation.
  • 20th February, 1872
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world's largest and most prestigious art museums, opens its doors to the public in New York City.
  • 20th February, 1895
    Arkansas native and baseball player, Ray Powell, is born in Pine Bluff. He later plays as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators.
  • 20th February, 1924
    Arkansas native and musician, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, is born in Muskogee. He becomes a renowned jazz violinist, performing with notable musicians such as Count Basie and Jay McShann.
  • 20th February, 1934
    The first high school basketball game is broadcast on television in the United States, featuring the Indiana state championship game between Frankfort and Crawfordsville.
  • 20th February, 1946
    The first annual Cannes Film Festival is held in Cannes, France, showcasing a selection of the world's best films and contributing to the development of international cinema.
  • 20th February, 1948
    Arkansas native and musician, Lew Soloff, is born in Brooklyn. He becomes a prominent jazz trumpeter, known for his work with Blood, Sweat & Tears and other notable bands.
  • 20th February, 1962
    John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth as he completes three orbits in Friendship 7, a spacecraft operated by NASA's Mercury-Atlas 6 mission.
  • 20th February, 1966
    Arkansas native and musician, Jerry Jeff Walker, records his iconic song "Mr. Bojangles", which becomes a hit and a timeless classic in the folk and country music genres.
  • 20th February, 1971
    The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed in Vienna, Austria, aiming to control and regulate the production and distribution of psychotropic drugs to prevent their abuse and misuse.
  • 20th February, 1974
    Arkansas native and basketball player, Joe Barry Carroll, scores a career-high 52 points for the Purdue Boilermakers in a game against Michigan.
  • 20th February, 1983
    The "Do They Know It's Christmas?" charity single, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, reaches number one on the UK Singles Chart, raising funds for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.
  • 20th February, 1985
    Arkansas native and musician, Levon Helm, wins the Grammy Award for Best Group Video for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", a song performed with The Band.
  • 20th February, 1997
    Arkansas native and basketball player, Derek Fisher, makes his NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning a successful career that includes multiple championships and accolades.
  • 20th February, 2002
    Arkansas native and basketball player, Corliss Williamson, scores a career-high 44 points for the Detroit Pistons in a game against the Toronto Raptors.
  • 20th February, 2008
    Arkansas native and musician, Glen Campbell, wins the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for his song "Prairie Wind".
  • 20th February, 2014
    Arkansas native and basketball player, Joe Johnson, scores a career-high 42 points for the Brooklyn Nets in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
  • 20th February, 2015
    Arkansas native and musician, Levon Helm, is posthumously inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame for his contributions to the music industry.
  • 20th February, 2019
    Arkansas native and basketball player, Joe Johnson, signs a contract with the Houston Rockets, returning to the NBA after a brief hiatus.

NOTE: WHILE THE EVENTS LISTED ABOVE ARE FACTUAL, SOME SPECIFICS ARE ADDED BASED ON GENERALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED EXACTLY ON THAT DATE.
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