Concorde
Concorde flew for the first time in 1976. A British company and a French company formed a joint cooperation to fund and build 20 Concorde planes. The planes mainly flew from London and Paris to New York and Washington, DC. Flights were expensive, but passengers arrived at their destinations in less than half the usual flight time. Due to less travel after September 11, 2001, and increased costs, the planes were retired on November 26, 2003.
976CN Tower was opened officially in 1976. Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, it stands 1,815 feet tall. It was the tallest free-standing structure in the world until 2010 when the Canton Tower and Burj Khalifa were built.
Flag of Seychelles
Republic of Seychelles celebrates Independence Day. It gained its freedom from the United Kingdom in 1976, but it remains a member of the British Commonwealth. The collection of about 80 islands lies in the western Indian Ocean. The area is slightly greater than twice the size of Washington, DC. Victoria is the capital. Its leading exports are coconuts and spices. Idea: Children could learn about the spices it exports. Children could learn more at: Seychelles.
First Image of Mars
Viking I landed on Mars in 1976. Launched August 20, 1975, Viking I carried cameras, a seismometer, a magnet, and sensors for temperature, wind velocity, and pressure. The Lander began to send data 25 seconds after landing and continued to function until November 11, 1982. Children can learn more at: Viking I.
Ben Franklin
International Lefthanders Day honors lefties. It was first observed in 1976. About ten percent of the population is lefthanded. Famous lefthanders include Ben Franklin, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Children could learn more at: http://www.lefthandersday.com/.
Flag of Gibraltar
Gibraltar celebrates Day of Decision, a national holiday. In 1976 the citizens of Gibraltar voted to remain an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Located on the southern coast of Spain, and bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, the country is about ten times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Approximately 29,000 people live in Gibraltar, while about five million tourists visit every year. The territory is strategically important because it lies at the intersection of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Older children could learn more at: Gibraltar.
Five Americans received Nobel Prizes in 1976. Baruch Blumberg and D. Carleton Gajdusek earned the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Burton Richter and Samuel Chao Chung Ting earned the physics award, and Saul Bellow was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.