On This Day

What Happened in 1969

Historical Events

  • Feb 4 The Palestine National Congress appoints Yasser Arafat chairman of the PLO
  • Feb 5 United States population reaches 200 million
  • Apr 7 The Internet's symbolic birth date: publication of RFC 1
  • Jul 20 Apollo 11 lunar module carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin lands on the surface of the Moon; Aldrin and Armstrong walk on the moon seven hours later; Michael Collins remains in orbit in the lunar module
  • Jul 21 Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the Moon at 2:56:15 AM (GMT)
  • Aug 14 British Army deploys on the streets of Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of Operation Banner
  • Sep 1 Colonel Muammar Gaddafi deposes King Idris in the Libyan revolution
  • Oct 15 Vietnam Moratorium Day; millions nationwide protest the war
  • Nov 15 An estimated 2 million people take part in the Vietnam War Moratorium Demonstration across the United States
  • Nov 19 Apollo 12's Charles Conrad and Alan Bean become the 3rd and 4th humans on the Moon
  • Nov 22 Isolation of a single gene announced by scientists at Harvard University
  • Dec 5 Four-node ARPANET network is established
  • More Historical Events

1969 in Film & TV

1969 in Music

  • Jan 12 Atlantic Records releases eponymous debut album of Led Zeppelin in US
  • Jun 20 200,000 attend Newport '69', then largest-ever pop concert in Northridge, California. Jimi Hendrix gets $120,000 to appear.
  • Jul 11 David Bowie releases the single "Space Oddity" 9 days before Apollo 11 lands on the moon
  • Aug 15 Woodstock Festival opens in Bethel, New York on Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm; performers include Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez
  • Sep 20 Virtual band Archies' single "Sugar Sugar" hits #1
  • Sep 26 The Beatles release "Abbey Road" album, their final recordings as a quartet
  • Oct 10 "Jesus Christ Superstar" soundtrack album by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is recorded
  • Nov 1 The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album goes #1 in US & stays #1 for 11 weeks
  • Dec 6 300,000 attend Altamont free concert in California, featuring The Rolling Stones. Marred by violence and four deaths.

1969 in Sport

  • Mar 1 New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement due to persistent knee injuries; finishes 18-season career with 536 home runs and .298 batting average
  • May 5 Milwaukee Bucks sign #1 NBA Draft pick, star UCLA center Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
  • Jun 8 MLB legend Mickey Mantle gives his farewell retirement speech during "Mickey Mantle Day" at Yankee Stadium, 60,096 see #7 retired

Did You Know?

The first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Center, New York.

On September 2, 1969

Famous People Born in 1969

More Famous Birthdays

Famous People in 1969

World Leaders in 1969

Would You Believe?

Brazilian soccer icon Pele scores his 1,000th goal

On November 20, 1969

Famous Weddings

  • Jan 18 Actress Audrey Hepburn (39) marries 2nd husband Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti; divorce in 1982
  • Feb 16 American country singer Tammy Wynette (26) weds American country singer-songwriter George Jones (37), divorced 1975
  • Feb 18 Scottish pop singer Lulu (20) weds British rock musician Maurice Gibb (19); divorce in 1973

Famous Divorces

  • Sep 18 Actor Rod Taylor (39) divorces model Mary Hilem after 5 years of marriage

More Weddings & Divorces

Famous People Who Died in 1969

More Famous Deaths

Articles and Photos



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