Attempts to dig a channel tunnel between Britain and France date back to 1883, and Napoleon drew blueprints for a tunnel in 1802. Yet not until February 20, 1986, were France and Britain able to announce that a tunnel would soon become a reality. Trains, cars and buses would be able to speed through the tunnel in less than half an hour. Construction began in December 1987 and the "chunnel" was finally completed in 1994.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Ireland allows sale of contraceptives, 1985
- American Revolution
- Postal Service Act regulates United States Post Office Department, 1792
- Automotive
- Kramer on "Seinfeld" adopts a highway, 1997
- Civil War
- Rebels defeat Yankees at the Battle of Olustee, 1864
- Cold War
- SEATO disbands, 1976
- Crime
- Atlanta Constitution editor is kidnapped, 1974
- Disaster
- Rhode Island nightclub burns, 2003
- General Interest
- American colonists practice scalping, 1725
- An American orbits earth, 1962
- Chunnel plans announced, 1986
- Hollywood
- John Singleton nominated for Best Director Oscar, 1992
- Literary
- Dylan Thomas arrives in New York, 1950
- Music
- Fire engulfs nightclub during Great White show, 2003
- Old West
- Ansel Adams is born, 1902
- Presidential
- George Washington signs the Postal Service Act, 1792
- Sports
- Tara Lipinski becomes youngest Olympic figure skating gold medalist, 1998
- Vietnam War
- Hearings begin on American policy in Vietnam, 1968
- World War I
- Amir of Afghanistan is assassinated, 1919
- World War II
- Pilot O'Hare becomes first American WWII flying ace, 1942
Feb 20, 1986:
Chunnel plans announced
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This Week in History, Feb 20 - Feb 26
- Feb 20, 1725
- American colonists practice scalping
- Feb 20, 1962
- An American orbits earth
- Feb 20, 1986
- Chunnel plans announced
- Feb 21, 1848
- Marx publishes Manifesto
- Feb 21, 1885
- Washington Monument dedicated
- Feb 21, 1972
- Nixon in China
- Feb 22, 1819
- The U.S. acquires Spanish Florida
- Feb 22, 1847
- Battle of Buena Vista begins
- Feb 22, 1967
- Suharto takes full power in Indonesia
- Feb 22, 1968
- Tet Offensive ends
- Feb 23, 1954
- Children receive first polio vaccine
- Feb 23, 1981
- Spanish rebels storm Parliament
- Feb 24, 1868
- President Andrew Johnson impeached
- Feb 24, 1917
- Zimmermann Note presented to U.S. ambassador
- Feb 24, 1946
- Peron elected in Argentina
- Feb 24, 1968
- Tet offensive halted
- Feb 24, 1988
- Supreme Court defends right to satirize public figures
- Feb 24, 1991
- Gulf War ground offensive begins
- Feb 25, 1870
- African American congressman sworn in
- Feb 25, 1986
- Marcos flees the Philippines
- Feb 26, 1935
- Hitler organizes Luftwaffe
- Feb 26, 1949
- Lucky Lady II begins nonstop global flight
- Feb 26, 1984
- Last U.S. Marines leave Beirut
- Feb 26, 1993
- World Trade Center bombed
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