🗓️ On This Day - March 18th
The first public bus service, the greatest show on Earth, and a historic robbery, are just a few of the reasons March 18th has gone down in history! Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or are simply recovering from the mother of all St Patrick’s hangovers, here’s a ton of great facts about March 18th.
On this day
The first bus hit the road.
On March 18th 1662, the first public bus service began in Paris, called "Carrosses a Cinq Sous," promoted by the mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal. The buses were horse-drawn and could accommodate up to eight passengers. The service operated until 1675 and is considered one of the very earliest forms of public transportation.
Roll up for The Greatest Show!
On this day in 1881, the Barnum & Bailey Circus debuted at Madison Square Garden over in New York City. The show was billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth" and came about after the merger of two existing circus groups. P.T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey founded the circus, which became known for its elaborate spectacles, exotic animals, and death-defying acts. Barnum's story was later retold in the Hugh Jackman movie "The Greatest Showman."
Who found Phoebe?
In 1898 on March 18th, American astronomer William Henry Pickering discovered Phoebe, one of Saturn's moons, by taking photographs of the gas giant and its surrounding satellites. It was the first moon discovered using photography, period!
Let’s go for a walk… in space!
On March 18th, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexey Leonov made history by becoming the first human to conduct a spacewalk. He left his Voskhod 2 spacecraft and floated in space for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, connected to the ship by a tether.
A heist that - in itself - was a work of art!
On March 18th, 1990, thieves stole 13 works of art, including paintings and sketches, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, USA. The stolen art was worth an estimated $500 million and the event remains the largest art heist in American history. Despite ongoing investigations and a $10 million reward for information leading to the return of the artwork, none of the stolen pieces have been recovered yet - more than 30 years on!
Special Days Falling on March 18th
Whether or not March 18th is personally special to you, here’s our favorite holidays to celebrate on this spring day!
Global Recycling DayÂ
The aim of Global Recycling Day is to encourage people to look at their waste in a different way, as much of it is reusable or recyclable. The day is also an opportunity to promote repurposing items through various competitions and events.
National Biodiesel DayÂ
Another eco-friendly holiday! National Biodiesel Day on March 18th commemorates Rudolf Diesel's birthday and promotes the use of biodiesel as an alternative to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is made from renewable resources such as vegetable oil, animal fats, and recycled cooking oil, and is cost-effective as well as great at reducing emissions!
National Awkward Moments DayÂ
National Awkward Moments Day is the perfect occasion when everyone can relate to embarrassing moments, as they are an unavoidable part of life! No one knows the exact origin of this cringe-worthy holiday, but we're sure it's an embarrassing story!
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This page was last modified on August 3, 2023. Suggest an edit
This month in history
Twitter, the popular social media platform, was launched in March, 2006. The first tweet was sent by the platform's founder, Jack Dorsey, on the same day, which read "just setting up my twttr". The platform quickly gained popularity and now has millions of users worldwide.
Famous Birthdays on March 18th
If you were born on March 18th…
You are the 12th sign of the zodiac, Pisces! Pisces individuals are symbolized by two fish and known for their artistic talents, empathetic nature, and intense emotions. They tend to absorb others’ feelings, making them excellent healers but can also lead to them becoming burdened.
You’re one of the most interesting Zodiac signs there is, and we have all of the information to prove it on our Pisces facts page!
