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Major Events of December 1958: 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 1958 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 1958: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1958 Our Lady of the Angels School Fire Tragedy: A devastating fire at Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, Illinois, results in the tragic deaths of 92 children and three nuns. This catastrophic event would lead to significant improvements in fire safety regulations for schools across the United States.
  • 02 Dec 1958 Salvadoran Civil War Atrocity: Four U.S. nuns and churchwomen - Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan, and Dorothy Kazel - are brutally murdered by a military death squad during the Salvadoran Civil War, highlighting the extreme violence of the conflict.
  • 03 Dec 1958 Indonesian Parliament Nationalizes Dutch Businesses: On December 3, 1958, the Indonesian parliament voted to nationalize Dutch-owned businesses, marking a significant moment in the country's post-colonial economic transformation. This decision was part of Indonesia's broader efforts to assert economic independence and reduce foreign economic control following its independence from the Netherlands.
  • 04 Dec 1958 Dahomey Gains Self-Governance: Dahomey (present-day Benin) achieved self-governing status within the French Community, representing an important step in its path towards independence and national sovereignty.
  • 05 Dec 1958 Preston By-pass: UK's First Motorway Opens: The Preston By-pass, Britain's inaugural motorway, opens to traffic. This groundbreaking infrastructure project would later become part of the M6 and M55 motorways, revolutionizing transportation in the United Kingdom.
  • 06 Dec 1958 US Pioneer 3 Lunar Probe Launch Attempt: The United States launched Pioneer 3, the third attempt to launch a lunar probe, from Cape Canaveral on a Juno II rocket. The spacecraft reached a maximum altitude of 102,322 kilometers but failed to achieve escape velocity and reentered Earth's atmosphere 38 hours and 6 minutes after launch.
  • 07 Dec 1958 West Berlin Rejects Communist Party in City Elections: In a significant political statement during the Cold War, West Berlin held elections for its 133-seat city parliament. Voters comprehensively rejected all Communist Party candidates, effectively thwarting Soviet attempts to transform West Berlin into a 'neutral city' and maintaining its connection to West Germany.
  • 08 Dec 1958 East Germany Centralizes Administrative Regions: On December 8, 1958, East Germany (German Democratic Republic) abolished its five existing states (Länder): Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. This administrative reorganization represented a significant centralization of political control in the Soviet-controlled region, further consolidating the communist government's power structure.
  • 09 Dec 1958 Founding of the John Birch Society: On December 9, 1958, Robert H. W. Welch Jr. and 11 other prominent conservative activists gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana to establish the John Birch Society, a far-right political advocacy organization dedicated to combating perceived Communist infiltration in American society during the height of the Cold War.
  • 10 Dec 1958 First Domestic Jet Passenger Flight in the United States: National Airlines pioneered domestic jet airliner service in the United States. A Boeing 707, leased from Pan American World Airways, departed New York City's Idlewild Airport at 9:54 a.m. EST, flying 111 passengers to Miami International Airport, marking a significant milestone in commercial aviation.
  • 11 Dec 1958 Decolonization of French West African Territories: French Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and French Dahomey (now Benin) gained self-government from France, establishing themselves as independent republics within the French Community. This marked a significant step in the decolonization process of French West Africa.
  • 12 Dec 1958 Dutch Government Cabinet Reshuffle: On December 12, 1958, Dutch Social Democratic Party ministers, including Premier Willem Drees, were dismissed from their governmental positions, signaling a significant political transition in the Netherlands.
  • 13 Dec 1958 NASA's First Animal Space Launch with Gordo the Monkey: NASA, the newly established space agency, conducted a groundbreaking mission by launching a squirrel monkey named Gordo into space. The monkey reached an impressive altitude of 300 kilometers, marking an important milestone in early space exploration and animal research for space travel. This mission was part of the critical preparatory work for future human spaceflight.
  • 14 Dec 1958 Soviet Antarctic Expedition Reaches Pole of Inaccessibility: The 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition, led by Yevgeny Tolstikov, became the first expedition to reach the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility, a remote and challenging location approximately 546 miles (878 kilometers) from the geographic South Pole. This significant polar exploration achievement demonstrated the Soviet Union's advanced capabilities in extreme geographical research and navigation.
  • 15 Dec 1958 Pioneering Laser Technology Research Paper: Arthur L. Schawlow and Charles H. Townes of Bell Laboratories published a groundbreaking paper in 'Physical Review Letters' that outlined the fundamental principles of the optical laser. This seminal work would become a cornerstone in the development of laser technology, describing the theoretical framework for creating coherent light amplification through stimulated emission of radiation.
  • 16 Dec 1958 Vida Department Store Fire in Bogotá: A devastating warehouse fire occurred in the Vida Department Store in Bogotá, Colombia, resulting in the tragic loss of 82 lives. The incident highlighted significant fire safety concerns and urban infrastructure vulnerabilities in mid-20th century Colombian cities.
  • 17 Dec 1958 NASA Announces Human Spaceflight Program: T. Keith Glennan, Administrator of NASA, publicly revealed the United States' ambitious project to launch a human being into outer space, marking a pivotal moment in the early stages of the Space Race. This announcement signaled the nation's commitment to human space exploration and set the groundwork for future missions that would ultimately lead to the Moon landing.
  • 18 Dec 1958 Project SCORE: World's First Communications Satellite Launch: On December 18, 1958, the United States launched Project SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment), marking a groundbreaking milestone in space communication technology. This pioneering satellite became the world's first communications satellite, demonstrating humanity's emerging capability to transmit messages via space-based platforms.
  • 19 Dec 1958 First Radio Broadcast from Space: President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers the first-ever radio broadcast from space, transmitting a Christmas message via satellite. The historic message emphasizes global peace, stating: "To all mankind, America's wish for Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men Everywhere."
  • 20 Dec 1958 Uneventful Day in Global History: On December 20, 1958, no major historical events were recorded. This day represents a moment of relative global calm during the late 1950s, a period characterized by Cold War tensions, technological advancements, and significant social transformations.
  • 21 Dec 1958 French Presidential Election of 1958: Charles de Gaulle is elected President of France, with his Union des Démocrates pour la République party gaining a significant 78.5% of the vote. This election marks the beginning of the Fifth Republic and establishes de Gaulle as a pivotal figure in modern French political history.
  • 22 Dec 1958 Louis Beel Becomes Prime Minister: Louis Beel became the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands, forming a new cabinet of ministers after the collapse of the previous coalition government.
  • 23 Dec 1958 Tokyo Tower Dedication: The Tokyo Tower was officially dedicated, becoming the world's highest self-supporting iron tower at the time. This architectural marvel symbolized Japan's post-war technological and economic recovery.
  • 24 Dec 1958 Kitt Peak National Observatory Dedication: On December 24, 1958, the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona was officially dedicated, representing a significant advancement in astronomical research. Located in the Quinlan Mountains, this observatory would become a premier site for ground-based astronomical observations, hosting numerous telescopes and playing a crucial role in expanding human understanding of the universe.
  • 25 Dec 1958 First Color Television Broadcast of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker: Tchaikovsky's ballet 'The Nutcracker' (the George Balanchine version) was broadcast in color on prime-time television for the first time, airing as an episode of the CBS anthology series 'Playhouse 90'. This groundbreaking broadcast marked a significant moment in television and performing arts history, showcasing the emerging color television technology.
  • 26 Dec 1958 Jackie Wilson Dominates R&B Charts: "Lonely Teardrops" by Jackie Wilson claimed the number 1 spot on the R&B music charts for the week of December 22-28, 1958. Wilson, a prominent rhythm and blues performer, was known for his powerful vocal style and dynamic performances.
  • 27 Dec 1958 Soviet-Egyptian Economic Cooperation Agreement: On December 27, 1958, representatives of the Soviet Union and the United Arab Republic (Egypt) signed a significant economic cooperation agreement, providing a substantial loan of 400 million rubles to support Egypt's development efforts. This financial arrangement was part of the broader Cold War-era geopolitical strategy of the Soviet Union to expand its influence in the Middle East.
  • 28 Dec 1958 NFL Championship: Greatest Game Ever Played: The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in a historic NFL Championship game at Yankee Stadium, winning 23-17 in the first-ever sudden death overtime. This game is widely considered one of the most significant moments in professional football history, marking a pivotal point in NFL championship dynamics.
  • 29 Dec 1958 Cuban Revolution: Battle of Santa Clara: Rebel troops led by Che Guevara begin their strategic invasion of Santa Clara, a pivotal moment in the Cuban Revolution. This military action would ultimately lead to the downfall of dictator Fulgencio Batista and mark a turning point in Cuban history.
  • 30 Dec 1958 Guatemalan Air Force Maritime Incident with Mexico: On December 30, 1958, the Guatemalan Air Force engaged in a controversial maritime confrontation by sinking several Mexican fishing boats near their shared maritime border. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of three fishermen's lives and escalated diplomatic tensions between Guatemala and Mexico. The Guatemalan government claimed the boats had illegally breached their territorial waters, while Mexico viewed the action as an excessive and disproportionate use of military force.
  • 31 Dec 1958 Cold War Diplomatic Tension: Berlin Crisis: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev demands Western allies evacuate West Berlin within 6 months, but ultimately backs down when faced with the allies' united front, highlighting the complex geopolitical tensions of the Cold War era.