21 January

January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 344 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about January 21^st, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about January 21^st in history!

Global Celebrations

National Squirrel Appreciation Day
National Hugging Day
International Sweatpants Day
National Granola Bar Day

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – January 21

1998: Pope John Paul II visits Cuba

It was the first time any Pope visited the country.

1976: Concorde takes off on its first scheduled flights

2 of the supersonic aircraft took off from Paris and London simultaneously.

1968: The Battle of Khe Sanh begins

It is one of the most publicized battles of the Vietnam War.

1911: 23 cars take part in the first Rally Monte Carlo

Unlike today, the competitors set out from 11 different European locations, heading for the finish line in Monte Carlo.

1899: Opel builds its first automobile

Today, Opel is one of the world’s largest car manufacturers.

1960: Day-to-day life during the simpler and prosperous economic times, Liberians walk from street to street on a crosswalk, as American-made automobiles pass by a large clock tower in the capital city Monrovia, Republic of Liberia, c. 1960.

Day to day life during the simpler and prosperous economic times, Liberians walk from street to street on a crosswalk, as American-made automobiles pass by a large clock tower in the capital city Monrovia, Republic of Liberia, c. 1960.

1943: Curtiss P-40F Warhawk of the 33FG preparing for take-off USS Ranger off the coast of North Africa, 1943.

1898 and 1914: Jerusalem, Palestine. This photo was taken between 1898 and 1914 when Palestine was under Ottoman rule

1914: Members of Buffalo Bill’s Troupe in Edmonton, Alberta. Autochrome taken in 1914, restored by me

1914 : Ahmed Ali Chalikten or Ahmed Ali Al-Arabi, the first pilot in the world of African origin, was in the ranks of the Ottoman army during the First World War in 1914.

Ahmed Ali Chalikten or Ahmed Ali Al-Arabi, the first pilot in the world of African origin, was in the ranks of the Ottoman army during the First World War in 1914.

1850: Later British Admiral Jacky Fisher as a Midshipman in the 1850s. His career spanned the Crimean War to World War I. He guided the Royal Navy from the era of wooden sailing ships with muzzle-loaded cannons to steel-hulled battlecruisers, submarines and early aircraft carriers.