Major Events of March 1995: 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 March 1995 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1995: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Mar 1995 Yahoo! Incorporation: Internet pioneer Yahoo is officially incorporated, originally founded in January 1994 as 'Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web' by Jerry Yang and David Filo.
- 02 Mar 1995 Kobe Earthquake: The Japanese city of Kobe was struck by a significant earthquake, causing widespread destruction and marking a tragic moment in the city's modern history.
- 03 Mar 1995 UN Peacekeeping Mission Concludes in Somalia: The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia (UNOSOM II) officially ended on March 3, 1995, marking the conclusion of international efforts to stabilize the war-torn country after years of conflict and humanitarian challenges.
- 04 Mar 1995 First 'Bionic Eye' Implanted in Teenage Patient: In a groundbreaking medical procedure at a Washington Hospital, a blind teenage boy received an innovative 'Bionic Eye' implant, representing a significant milestone in assistive medical technology and potential vision restoration for visually impaired individuals.
- 05 Mar 1995 Discovery of Romanov Family Graves: The long-lost graves of Czar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their children were discovered in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This significant archaeological and historical find provided closure to the mystery surrounding the fate of the last Russian imperial family, who were executed during the Russian Revolution.
- 06 Mar 1995 Tragic Talk Show Aftermath: A devastating incident occurs following a Jenny Jones Show episode about same-sex crushes, where Jonathan Schmitz murders Scott Amedure after Amedure publicly reveals a romantic attraction to him.
- 07 Mar 1995 Middle East Peace Negotiations: Representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Israel, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) commenced peace negotiations on March 7, 1995, continuing efforts to resolve long-standing regional conflicts and establish diplomatic relations.
- 08 Mar 1995 Costis Stephanopoulos Becomes President of Greece: Costis Stephanopoulos was elected as the President of Greece, marking a significant moment in the country's political transition and democratic process during the mid-1990s.
- 09 Mar 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack: The doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo perpetrates a devastating terrorist attack by releasing sarin gas on the Tokyo subway system. The attack results in 13 fatalities and causes temporary vision loss for over 1,000 people, shocking Japan and the world.
- 10 Mar 1995 Michael Jordan Returns to NBA: Basketball legend Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA, ending his brief baseball career. Citing labor unrest as a factor, Jordan's comeback was a monumental moment in sports history, signaling the return of one of basketball's greatest players.
- 11 Mar 1995 Gerry Adams US Visit: Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein, arrived in the United States, a significant diplomatic moment during the Northern Ireland peace process.
- 12 Mar 1995 Indian National Election Shift: The Congress Party, a long-standing political force in India, loses the national election, signaling a potential political transformation in the country's democratic landscape.
- 13 Mar 1995 Deadly Protest Incident in Istanbul: Istanbul police fatally shot 16 Alawite demonstrators during a protest, highlighting the complex ethnic and political tensions in Turkey during the mid-1990s.
- 14 Mar 1995 Norman Thagard's Historic Space Mission: Astronaut Norman Thagard made history by becoming the first American astronaut to launch into space aboard a Russian spacecraft, symbolizing post-Cold War cooperation in space exploration.
- 15 Mar 1995 Unremarkable Day in 1995: While no specific significant historical events were documented for March 15, 1995, this date represents a typical day in the mid-1990s. The mid-decade period was characterized by significant global transitions, including the end of the Cold War, technological advancements, and emerging digital technologies.
- 16 Mar 1995 Mississippi Belatedly Ratifies 13th Amendment: Mississippi formally ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery. Though the amendment was officially ratified nationally in 1865, Mississippi's late confirmation symbolizes the state's complex racial history.
- 17 Mar 1995 FDA Approves First Chickenpox Vaccine: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Varivax, the first chickenpox (varicella) vaccine developed by Merck and Company. This groundbreaking medical advancement would significantly reduce the incidence of chickenpox and its potential complications.
- 18 Mar 1995 Michael Jordan's NBA Return: Basketball superstar Michael Jordan announces his return to the NBA after a 17-month retirement, rejoining the Chicago Bulls and marking a significant moment in sports history.
- 19 Mar 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack: A deadly terrorist attack occurs in the Tokyo subway system, where five people die from poison gas, later identified as a sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult.
- 20 Mar 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack: On March 20, 1995, the Japanese religious cult Aum Shinrikyo conducted a devastating terrorist attack on the Tokyo subway system. Members of the cult released sarin gas, a deadly nerve agent, on multiple subway lines during the morning rush hour. The attack killed 13 people and wounded over 6,200, causing widespread panic and becoming one of the most significant terrorist incidents in modern Japanese history.
- 21 Mar 1995 Howard Stern Rest Area Dedication: On March 21, 1995, the state of New Jersey officially dedicated a highway rest area along Route 295 in honor of controversial radio personality Howard Stern. This unusual naming was a testament to Stern's significant cultural impact and local notoriety, reflecting New Jersey's unique approach to commemorating public figures.
- 22 Mar 1995 Record-Breaking Space Endurance Mission: Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov completed an extraordinary space mission by returning to Earth after spending an unprecedented 438 consecutive days aboard the Mir space station. This remarkable achievement represented the longest single human spaceflight at the time, providing critical medical and physiological research about human adaptation to extended periods of microgravity.
- 23 Mar 1995 Student Protest in New York City: A student protest escalated into violence in New York City, with Mayor Giuliani and Governor Pataki criticizing CUNY faculty and administration for the large student turnout and subsequent unrest.
- 24 Mar 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack Aftermath: Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, publicly denies involvement in the devastating March 20 Tokyo subway nerve gas attack. The coordinated terrorist assault on multiple subway lines resulted in 12 fatalities and over 6,000 people suffering severe health effects, marking one of the most shocking terrorist incidents in modern Japanese history.
- 25 Mar 1995 First Wiki Created: WikiWikiWeb Launch: Ward Cunningham opens the WikiWikiWeb, the world's first collaborative online platform that allows users to directly edit web pages, marking a significant milestone in digital collaboration and information sharing.
- 26 Mar 1995 Schengen Agreement Takes Effect: The Schengen Agreement goes into effect, significantly reducing border controls and enabling free movement across multiple European countries. This landmark treaty allows citizens to travel, work, and study across participating nations without passport checks, marking a major milestone in European integration.
- 27 Mar 1995 67th Academy Awards Ceremony: The 67th Academy Awards, hosted by David Letterman, was a landmark event in cinema. 'Forrest Gump' dominated the night, winning Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), Best Actor (Tom Hanks), and Best Actress (Jessica Lange).
- 28 Mar 1995 Three Mile Island Nuclear Incident: A significant nuclear reactor malfunction occurs at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, causing a near-catastrophic meltdown that becomes a pivotal moment in nuclear safety awareness and public perception of nuclear energy risks.
- 29 Mar 1995 Howard Stern Radio Show Debuts in Chicago: The Howard Stern Radio Show premiered on WCKG 105.9 FM in Chicago, Illinois, marking an expansion of the controversial and popular radio personality's media presence. This broadcast represented another milestone in Stern's influential career in radio entertainment.
- 30 Mar 1995 Assassination Attempt on Japanese Police Chief: In a shocking incident, a police officer attempted to assassinate Takaji Kunimatsu, the chief of the National Police Agency of Japan. This event highlighted internal tensions and potential security risks within Japan's law enforcement hierarchy.
- 31 Mar 1995 Murder of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez: Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the beloved Mexican-American Tejano pop singer, was tragically murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, the president of her own fan club, at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi, Texas. This shocking event ended the life of a rising music star who had been breaking cultural barriers and achieving unprecedented success in Latin music.