Tower Subway

Historical eventAugust 21870

Tower Subway

One of the world's earliest underground tube railways opened in the Tower Subway (interior depicted), a tunnel beneath the River Thames in London.

Photo: Sodacan (ed. Safes007 ) · CC BY-SA 4.0

In context

When
Tuesday, August 2 1870156 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1870s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1870.

What happened

One of the world's earliest underground tube railways opened in the Tower Subway (interior depicted), a tunnel beneath the River Thames in London.

August 2 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1870Tower Subway
  2. 1986Castle in the Sky
  3. 19891989 Valvettiturai massacre
  4. 1989Pakistan
  5. 1990Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
  6. 1991Space Shuttle Atlantis
  7. 1999Gaisal train collision
  8. 2005Air France Flight 358
  9. 2007Raúl Iturriaga
  10. 2008Murder of Khuan Phokaeng
  11. 20142014 Kunshan explosion

Also in 1870

  • September 18Nathaniel P. LangfordNathaniel P. Langford of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition first observed a geyser in the Wyoming Territory erupting at regular inte…
  • March 1Paraguayan WarParaguayan War: Marshal Francisco Solano López died at the Battle of Cerro Corá.
  • February 25United States SenateMississippi senator Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to be seated in the U.S. Congress.
  • February 27Flag of JapanThe current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.
  • January 23American Indian WarsAmerican Indian Wars: In the Marias Massacre, the United States Army killed about 200 Piegan Blackfeet, mostly women, children, and the e…
  • September 20BersaglieriThe Bersaglieri entered Rome through the Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope and completing the unification of Italy.
  • September 2Franco-Prussian WarFranco-Prussian War: Prussian forces captured Napoleon III at the Battle of Sedan, which led to the collapse of the Second French Empire…
  • July 15Rupert's LandFollowing the transfer of Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company, Manitoba was established as a province of Canada.

Everything we record for 1870 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Tower Subway”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/tower-subway-1870-august-2, 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 Tower Subway happen?

August 2 1870 — 156 years ago, on a Tuesday.

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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