February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 326 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about February 8th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about February 8th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- Laugh and Get Rich Day
- National Kite Flying Day
- National Molasses Bar Day
- Propose Day
- Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – February 8
1971: The NASDAQ holds its first trading day
The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations was the world’s first electronic stock exchange.
1960: The first 8 stars are added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame
More than 2400 five-pointed stars have since been embedded in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street to honor stars of the entertainment industry.
1950: The Stasi, East Germany’s notorious secret police, is established
The “Staatssicherheit”, which was dissolved in 1990, is considered one of the most repressive intelligence agencies in the world.
1910: The Boy Souts of America is founded
3 years earlier, British General Robert Baden-Powell had founded the Scout movement in England.
1879: Sandford Fleming proposes the use of time zones
The later introduction of Universal Standard Time, which is based on time zones, revolutionized time keeping.
1950: Chicago Railroads 1950.

1924: The Birger Gang, southern Illinois bootleggers, pose with guns. Charles Birger is at center, on top of the car, c. 1924.

1905: Traffic in Oxford Street, London c1905 and 2014.

Sidecar racing

Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, February 8
1941: Nick Nolte, American actor
1932: John Williams, American pianist, composer, conductor
1931: James Dean, American actor
1925: Jack Lemmon, American actor, singer, director
1828: Jules Verne, French author
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, February 8
2007: Ian Stevenson, American biochemist
2007: Anna Nicole Smith, American model, actress
1998: Enoch Powell, British politician
1957: John von Neumann, Hungarian/American mathematician
1587: Mary, Queen of Scots