Old clock in sand with the words: It Happend in July

By Day: Historical Events on July 20th

Explore key moments from this day in history, organized by year. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

1810 CE, July 20

Colombian Declaration of Independence from Spain.

1944 CE, July 20

German military leaders attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler and take control of the government. Their plot fails. More

1948 CE, July 20

The second peacetime draft began with passage of the Selective Service Act of 1948 after the STSA expired. The new law required all men of age 18 to 26 to register. It also created the system for the "Doctor Draft", aimed at inducting health professionals into military service. More

1969 CE, July 20

American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin land the Apollo 11 mission Lunar Module “Eagle” in the Sea of Tranquility and become the first humans to walk on the moon. More

1976 CE, July 20

Viking 1 Lands on Mars' on the western slope of Chryse Planitia (the Plains of Gold). Viking 1 found a place in history when it became the first U.S. mission to land a spacecraft safely on the surface of Mars and return images of the surface. More

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