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Major Events of December 1957: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 1957 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 1957: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1957 NYC Passes Fair Housing Practices Law: New York City became the first U.S. city to legislate against racial and religious discrimination in the housing market by passing the Fair Housing Practices Law on December 1st, 1957, a landmark civil rights achievement that predated federal fair housing legislation.
  • 02 Dec 1957 Shippingport Atomic Power Station Reaches Criticality: The reactor at the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, reaches criticality for the first time, representing a milestone in nuclear power generation.
  • 03 Dec 1957 Elvis Presley's 'Jailhouse Rock' Tops US Charts: Elvis Presley's hit song 'Jailhouse Rock' was the number one song in the United States, further solidifying the rock and roll icon's dominance in popular music during the late 1950s.
  • 04 Dec 1957 Lewisham Train Disaster: On December 4, 1957, two commuter trains collided in heavy fog near Saint John's, England, resulting in a tragic accident that claimed 92 lives. The dense fog severely impaired visibility, contributing to the catastrophic collision that became one of the most significant railway accidents in British history.
  • 05 Dec 1957 New York City Fair Housing Practices Law: New York City becomes the first city in the United States to legislate against racial and religious discrimination in the housing market, establishing the Fair Housing Practices Law, a landmark civil rights achievement.
  • 06 Dec 1957 Project Vanguard Launch Failure: The United States experiences a significant setback in its early space exploration efforts when the Vanguard TV3 rocket explodes on the launch pad, thwarting the first attempt to launch a satellite into Earth orbit during the Cold War space race.
  • 07 Dec 1957 NORAD Agreement Signed: The United States and Canada formally established the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint military organization designed to provide aerospace warning and defense for North America, marking a significant Cold War-era collaborative defense strategy.
  • 08 Dec 1957 Phil Collen: English Rock Guitarist Born: Phil Collen was born on December 8, 1957, in London, England. He would later become the lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Def Leppard, known for their groundbreaking albums 'Hysteria' and hit songs like 'Rock of Ages'. Collen played a significant role in the band's success during the 1980s and 1990s, contributing to their distinctive hard rock and glam metal sound.
  • 09 Dec 1957 Codogno Rail Crash in Italy: On December 9, 1957, a tragic rail accident occurred in Codogno, Italy, when the Milan–Rome express collided with a truck at a level crossing. The crash claimed 15 lives and seriously injured at least 30 people, underscoring the dangers of railway-road intersections and the need for enhanced safety measures.
  • 10 Dec 1957 Lester B. Pearson Receives Nobel Peace Prize: Canadian diplomat Lester B. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his groundbreaking peacekeeping efforts within the United Nations. His innovative approach to international conflict resolution, particularly during the Suez Crisis, established the modern concept of UN peacekeeping missions and set a new standard for diplomatic conflict resolution.
  • 11 Dec 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis Controversial Marriage: Rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13-year-old first cousin once removed, Myra Gale Brown, causing a massive scandal in the music industry and public sphere. This shocking marriage would significantly damage Lewis's professional reputation and career trajectory.
  • 12 Dec 1957 First Artificial Heart Experiment: Medical pioneer Willem J. Kolff and his team at Cleveland Clinic conduct groundbreaking research by successfully replacing a dog's heart with a pneumatic pump, keeping the animal alive for 90 minutes and demonstrating the potential of artificial heart technology.
  • 13 Dec 1957 Devastating Farsinaj Earthquake in Iran: On December 13, 1957, a powerful magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Farsinaj region of Iran, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The seismic event reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII, indicating considerable damage to infrastructure and severe ground shaking. The earthquake resulted in at least 1,119 fatalities and destroyed over 5,000 homes, leaving thousands of residents homeless and devastated.
  • 14 Dec 1957 Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 670 Tragedy: A devastating aviation disaster occurred when Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 670 crashed in a severe rainstorm approximately 180 miles (290 km) southwest of Buenos Aires, resulting in the tragic loss of 61 lives. The incident highlighted the challenging weather conditions and aviation safety concerns of the late 1950s.
  • 15 Dec 1957 Activation of the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron: On December 15, 1957, the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC) activated the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. This milestone marked a significant advancement in Cold War-era military technology and strategic defense capabilities. The squadron was specifically established to train missile crews and conduct test launches of the SM-62 Snark, a pioneering intercontinental cruise missile designed to carry nuclear warheads. As SAC's first operational Snark squadron and inaugural missile squadron, this unit represented a critical step in the United States' emerging nuclear deterrence strategy during the height of the Cold War.
  • 16 Dec 1957 NATO Heads of Government Summit in Paris: A critical NATO summit commenced in Paris, France, bringing together heads of government to discuss strategic matters during the Cold War era. The high-level meeting would continue until December 19, focusing on collective defense and geopolitical challenges.
  • 17 Dec 1957 US Atlas ICBM Test Launch: The United States successfully test-fired the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), marking a significant milestone in Cold War-era military technology and strategic defense capabilities.
  • 18 Dec 1957 First Nuclear Power Plant Generates Electricity: The Shippingport Atomic Power Station became the first nuclear power plant in the United States to successfully generate electricity, marking a significant milestone in clean energy production and technological innovation.
  • 19 Dec 1957 Devastating F5 Tornado Outbreak in Midwestern United States: A catastrophic F5 tornado completely destroyed the entire community of Sunfield, Illinois, as part of a severe tornado outbreak across Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. The tornado sequence resulted in 19 fatalities, 291 injuries, and caused approximately $15.86 million in property damage, marking it as one of the most destructive tornado events of the year.
  • 20 Dec 1957 Boeing 707 First Flight: The initial production version of the Boeing 707 makes its first flight, a pivotal moment in commercial aviation history. This aircraft would revolutionize air travel, becoming a cornerstone of modern passenger jet transportation.
  • 21 Dec 1957 Indonesia Ends State of War: On December 21, 1957, Indonesia officially proclaimed the end of its state of war, marking a significant diplomatic and political milestone in the nation's post-colonial history. This declaration signaled Indonesia's transition from a period of conflict and tension to a more stable national governance framework.
  • 22 Dec 1957 U.S. Civil Rights Commission Established: The Civil Rights Commission is established in the United States under the Civil Rights Act of 1957, a crucial step in the ongoing struggle for racial equality and civil liberties.
  • 23 Dec 1957 DUPE: US Air Force Strategic Bomber Procurement: The United States Air Force made a strategic decision to order the North American B-70 Valkyrie as a planned replacement for the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. This procurement represented an important moment in Cold War-era military aviation technology and strategic defense planning.
  • 24 Dec 1957 Bush Pardons Iran-Contra Officials: On December 24, 1957, President George H.W. Bush granted presidential pardons to six high-ranking officials who were either convicted or indicted in the Iran-Contra affair. These pardons effectively halted ongoing investigations and legal proceedings related to the controversial scandal, which involved secret arms sales to Iran and illegal funding of Nicaraguan Contras during the Reagan administration. The move sparked significant political debate, with critics arguing that the pardons were an attempt to prevent further exposure of potentially illegal government activities.
  • 25 Dec 1957 Ed Gein found insane of murder
  • 27 Dec 1957 Black African Students Federation Congress in France: The eighth congress of the Black African Students Federation in France (FEANF) convened in Paris, bringing together student leaders from various French colonial territories in Africa. This gathering was significant for discussing pan-African student solidarity, educational challenges, and anti-colonial movements during the late 1950s decolonization period.
  • 28 Dec 1957 Soviet Nuclear Test: The Soviet Union conducted an atmospheric nuclear test, continuing the ongoing nuclear arms race and Cold War tensions during the late 1950s.
  • 29 Dec 1957 NFL Championship: Detroit Lions Triumph: The Detroit Lions decisively defeated the Cleveland Browns 50-14 in the NFL Championship game, showcasing a dominant performance in professional American football.
  • 30 Dec 1957 Israeli Government Resignation: On December 30, 1957, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and his government resigned, marking a significant moment in Israel's early political history. Ben-Gurion, a founding father of the state, was known for his strong leadership and pivotal role in establishing and developing the young nation.
  • 31 Dec 1957 Disneyland Reaches Milestone of 10 Million Guests: On the last day of 1957, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, celebrated a significant milestone by welcoming its 10-millionth visitor, marking an impressive achievement for the young theme park that had opened just two years earlier in 1955.