An almanac of every day
What happened on this day in history
onthisday.me curates what happened on every single day of the year: the historical events, the famous people born and who died, the songs that hit the charts, the films that packed cinemas, the holidays celebrated around the world, and the quote that captures the day.
Today — September 20
In 1498: The Nankai tsunami washes away the building housing the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in; it has been located outside ever since.
12 events · 7 birthdays · 5 holidays — see all on September 20 →
Browse by month
All 366 dates
Pick a month, then drill into any day. Every date has its own full page.
About
What's on every date page
Historical events
A chronological feed of what happened on that date, from antiquity to the present day.
Famous birthdays & deaths
Notable people born or who died on that day, with their dates, roles and a short biography.
The number-one songs
UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100 — who was top of the charts each year.
Sport, science & holidays
A featured sporting moment, a scientific milestone, and the holidays celebrated worldwide.
Quote of the day
A line worth hearing again, drawn from someone tied to the date.
A daily quiz
One question, four choices, an explainer — to test what you've just read.