Etch A Sketch Day
Etch A Sketch Day is celebrated every year on July 12th to honor the release of one of the most iconic toys in history. First introduced in the U.S. on July 12, 1960, the Etch A Sketch has become a symbol of creativity, nostalgia, and artistic challenge. Two knobs control a stylus that scrapes aluminum powder from the inside of the screen. The left knob moves the stylus horizontally; the right knob moves it vertically. Shaking the device redistributes the powder, erasing the image.
Here are some notable historical events that happened on July 12 throughout history:
Major Historical Events
1191 – During the Third Crusade, the city of Acre surrendered to King Richard I of England after a long siege.
1543 – King Henry VIII of England married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.
1862 – The U.S. Medal of Honor was created when President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law.
1933 – The first Dymaxion car, a futuristic three-wheeled vehicle designed by Buckminster Fuller, was manufactured.
1984 – Geraldine Ferraro was nominated as the first female vice-presidential candidate representing a major U.S. political party (Democratic Party).
Famous Birthdays
George Eastman (1854) – Founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, revolutionized photography.
Pablo Neruda (1904) – Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet.
Malala Yousafzai (1997) – Pakistani activist for girls’ education and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Notable Deaths
1450 – Jack Cade, English rebel leader who led a major uprising against King Henry VI.
1536 – Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch Renaissance humanist and theologian.
1804 – Alexander Hamilton, U.S. Founding Father, died after a duel with Aaron Burr.
1849 – Dolley Madison, former First Lady of the United States.
1976 – James Wong Howe, pioneering Chinese-American cinematographer.
2013 – Amar Bose, founder of Bose Corporation and audio technology innovator.
2020 – Kelly Preston, American actress, passed away from breast cancer.
