Bikini Atoll

Historical eventJuly 51946

Bikini Atoll

Named after Bikini Atoll, the site of the nuclear-weapons test Operation Crossroads in the Marshall Islands, the modern bikini was introduced at a fashion show in Paris.

80th anniversary in 2026

Everything on July 5Original source
Photo: TTPI(Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) Headquarters · Public domain

In context

When
Friday, July 5 194680 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1940s
Anniversary
80th in 2026
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1946.

What happened

Bikini Atoll, known as Eschscholtz Atoll between the 19th century and 1946, is a coral reef in the Marshall Islands consisting of 23 islands surrounding a 229.4-square-mile (594.1 km2) central lagoon. The atoll is at the northern end of the Ralik Chain, approximately 530 miles (850 km) northwest of the capital Majuro.

July 5 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1946Bikini Atoll
  2. 2004Direct election
  3. 2006United Nations Security Council
  4. 2006North Korea
  5. 2009Staffordshire Hoard
  6. 2009July 2009 Ürümqi riots
  7. 2012The Shard
  8. 2016Juno (spacecraft)
  9. 2022Sajid Javid
  10. 2023Ariane 5
  11. 2024Keir Starmer

Also in 1946

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  • October 271946 Bihar riotsInter-religious riots in which Hindu mobs targeted Muslim families began in the Indian state of Bihar, resulting in 2,000 to 30,000 deaths.
  • May 1Pilbara strikeStart of three-year Pilbara strike of Indigenous Australians.
  • July 22King David Hotel bombingKing David Hotel bombing: A Zionist underground organisation, the Irgun, bombs the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, site of the civil admin…
  • December 26Bugsy SiegelAmerican gangster Bugsy Siegel opened The Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the oldest casino still in operation on the Las Vegas Strip.
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  • August 7Turkish StraitsThe Soviet Union informed Turkey that the way in which the latter was handling the Turkish Straits no longer represented the security int…
  • April 25Naperville train disasterTwo passenger trains collided in Naperville, Illinois, leaving 45 people dead and some 125 injured.

Everything we record for 1946 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Bikini Atoll”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/bikini-atoll-1946-july-5, accessed October 24, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Bikini Atoll happen?

July 5 1946 — 80 years ago, on a Friday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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