🔍︎
Dark Mode
National days, ongoing national weeks and months, and global observances for August 1, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.
These observances run for a full week; this calendar day falls inside the week.
These observances last the full month; this date is part of that month-long celebration.
Showing the first 12 on this date; there are more month-long observances. See the full months list for August.
International and other global observances on this date (may include days, weeks, or months).
Events that occurred on August 1 throughout history
President Ulysses S. Grant signs the proclamation to admit Colorado as the 38th state to join the Union.
Angel Island at San Francisco Bay, California becomes the U.S. Quarantine Station to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
Henry Perky receives the patent for shredded wheat.
Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman in the U.S. to earn an Aero Club of America Aviator Certificate.
The first military Jeep (the Willys MB) officially mass-produced, following a contract awarded to Willys-Overland by the U.S. War Department.
President Harry S. Truman signs the Atomic Energy Act, establishing the Atomic Energy Commission. The shifted control of atomic energy from military to civilian hands.
The U.S. and Canada form the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The organization carries out aerospace warnings, aerospace controls, and maritime warnings for North America.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara officially ordered the creation of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The Agency was intended to centralize military intelligence, eliminate waste, and stop the different military branches from duplicating work.
Frank Herbert's novel, Dune was published for the first time. It is considered one of the world's best-selling science fiction novels in history.
MTV begins broadcasting and airs its first video, Video Killed the Radio Star by the The Buggles. The program was initially available only to households in parts of New Jersey and parts of the New York area.
People born on August 1
Explorer who co-led the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804.
Author of The Bridges of Madison County.
Physician who pioneered the treatment of syphilis with penicillin.
Musician and founder of the rock band Grateful Dead.
Actor with credits in Game of Thrones, Aquaman, and the recent A Minecraft Movie.
The first Black woman cartoonist and who created the Torchy Brown and Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger comic strips.
Novelist who wrote Moby Dick.
Lawyer and amateur who wrote the British tune Defence of Fort M'Henry. The song became the American national anthem the Star-Spangled Banner.
