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National days, ongoing national weeks and months, and global observances for July 20, 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 July.
International and other global observances on this date (may include days, weeks, or months).
Events that occurred on July 20 throughout history
The Ford Motor Company ships its first automobile from Detroit. The Model A was sold for $850 and delivered three days later to a dentist named Ernest Pfennig in Chicago.
Alice Mary Robertson becomes the first woman to preside over the floor of U.S. House of Representatives.
High school biology teacher John T. Scopes is found guilty of teaching human evolution in his Dayton, Tennessee, classroom. He is fined $100.
The first detachment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) began basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. The training was the first time women were allowed to serve in non-combat military roles and freeing men for the front lines.
The first International Special Olympics Summer Games are held at Soldier Field in Chicago. Nearly 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities participate.
Apollo 11's crew successfully makes the first human landing on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the Moon six and a half hours later.
The Viking 1 lander successfully lands on Mars. The mission successful returned to earth and provided ground-level photographs of the Red Planets surface.
The Central Intelligence Agency releases documents under the Freedom of Information Act revealing it had engaged in mind-control experiments. The documents showed the CIA's use of techniques and drugs capable of manipulating human behavior, bypassing rational inhibitions, and extracting confessions.
People born on July 20
Voice actress who is known for voicing Disney characters of the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, and Flora in Sleeping Beauty.
Award-winning American actress who co-starred in a Miracle on 34th Street, Rebel Without a Cause, and Splendor in the Grass, to name a few.
Founder of Little Caesars.
Author of All the Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men.
Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founding member of the rock band Santana.
Advertisement salesman for products such as OxiClean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom.
