Death of Courtney Hicks Hodges
Death of Courtney Hicks Hodges
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1966 in United States of America
Explore 97 historical events and records for United States of America in 1966.
Historical records for United States of America in 1966
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 97 unique records.
97Unique records
1 of 3Page
33Named events on this page
29Named people on this page
9Places on this page
January
February
Death of Buster Keaton
Death of Buster Keaton
AS-201
Apollo-Saturn 201 tests spacecraft systems without a crew.
London Fog Residency
Develops its live sound during a London Fog residency.
March
Verve Records Contract
Signs with Verve Records after producer Tom Wilson sees the Mothers perform, leading to the name Mothers of Invention.
1st Orbital Docking
During Gemini VIII American astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David Scott perform the first orbital docking
Gemini VIII
The rendezvous and first ever docking between two spacecraft is successfully completed after 6.5 hours in orbit. The mission launches, the most complex yet, with a rendezvous and docking with the unmanned Agena target vehicle, the second American (and third ever) extra-vehicular activity (EVA) (Armstrong himself dislikes the term "space walk"). During Gemini VIII American astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David Scott perform the first orbital docking
Gemini VIII
During Gemini VIII American astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David Scott performed the first orbital docking
Apollo 1 Crew
Is assigned as pilot for Apollo 1.
Apollo 1 Crew
Is named commander for the first crewed Apollo mission.
Apollo 1 Crew
Is assigned as senior pilot for Apollo 1.
May
Blonde on Blonde
Releases the double album Blonde on Blonde.
Just Like a Woman
Releases Just Like a Woman on Blonde on Blonde.
Visions of Johanna
Releases Visions of Johanna on Blonde on Blonde.
Hey Joe
Hendrixs first single is a cover of "Hey Joe", crafted after folk-singer Tim Roses slower revision of the song and adapted to Hendrixs style
Whisky a Go Go
Begins a residency at the Whisky a Go Go.
June
Freak Out!
Releases Freak Out! with the Mothers of Invention, an ambitious double album combining satire, rock and experimental composition.
July
Freedom of Information Act
Signs the Freedom of Information Act, strengthening public access to federal records.
Gemini IX
During the flight of Gemini IX American astronauts Tom Stafford and Eugene Cernan make a two-hour EVA
Gemini IX
During the flight of Gemini IX American astronauts Tom Stafford and Eugene Cernan make a two-hour EVA
Gemini X
During Gemini X American astronauts Mike Collins and John Young make two rendezvous and docking maneuvers with Agena target vehicles, plus complete a complex EVA
Gemini X
During Gemini X American astronauts Mike Collins and John Young make two rendezvous and docking maneuvers with Agena target vehicles, plus complete a complex EVA
Death of Montgomery Clift
Death of Montgomery Clift
Motorcycle Accident
Suffers a motorcycle accident near Woodstock.
August
AS-202
Apollo-Saturn 202 tests the command module heat shield.
Death of Lee Edward Bowers, Jr
Death of Lee Edward Bowers, when his car leaves an empty road and hits a concrete bridge abutment near Midlothian, Texas
Debut Album Sessions
Engineers early recordings that shape The Doors' studio sound.
Debut Album Sessions
Produces the first Doors album sessions.
Elektra Records
Signs with Elektra Records after Los Angeles club exposure.
The End Performance
Improvises provocative lyrics during The End at the Whisky.
September
Motor Vehicle Safety Act
Signs the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act to establish federal automobile safety standards.
October
Child Nutrition Act
Signs the Child Nutrition Act, expanding federal support for school meals and child nutrition programmes.
Department of Transportation Act
Signs the Department of Transportation Act, creating the U.S. Department of Transportation.
National Historic Preservation Act
Signs the National Historic Preservation Act, creating a national framework for protecting historic places.
November
Birth of David Lawrence Schwimmer
Birth of David Lawrence Schwimmer
Gemini XII
The last Gemini flight, Gemini XII, is launched on this date, during this mission, American astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin completed three EVAs and a docking with an Agena target vehicle
Gemini XII
The last Gemini flight, Gemini XII, is launched on this date, during this mission, American astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin completed three EVAs and a docking with an Agena target vehicle
Arrest of Jack Martin
In the autumn of 1966, Garrison began to re-examine the Kennedy assassination. Guy Banister had died of a heart attack in 1964, but Garrison re-interviewed Jack Martin, who told the district attorney that Banister and his associates were involved in stealing weapons and ammunition from armories and in gunrunning
Garrison Investigation Resumed
Jim Garrison resumed his Kennedy assassination investigation in November 1966, eventually directing attention toward Clay Shaw.
December
Trial
Arrangements were underway for a new trial to be held in February 1967, in Wichita Falls, Ruby was admitted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, suffering from pneumonia
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.