The Handshake That Ended Centuries of War
On January 22, 1963, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Élysée Treaty, turning France and Germany from ancient enemies into partners.
Tales from the year 1963
The Rock Goes Quiet: Alcatraz Closes Its Cell Doors
On March 21, 1963, the last inmates left Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, ending 29 years as America's most infamous prison.
One Day, Four Lads, and the Album That Started It All
On March 22, 1963, Parlophone rush-released the Beatles' debut album "Please Please Me" — most of it recorded in a single day.
The Governor Who Stood in the Schoolhouse Door
On June 11, 1963, Alabama's governor blocked two Black students from registering at the University of Alabama — and that night President Kennedy called civil rights a moral issue on TV.
The Seagull's Flight: How Valentina Tereshkova Became the First Woman in Space
On June 16, 1963, a 26-year-old textile worker and amateur parachutist launched from Baikonur and became the first woman in space.
The Great Train Robbery: Britain's Most Audacious Heist, August 8, 1963
In the early hours of August 8, 1963, a 15-man gang stopped a Royal Mail train at Bridego Bridge and stole £2.6 million — most of it never found.
A Dream on the National Mall
On August 28, 1963, a quarter of a million people filled Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech.