August Historical Events
August Traditions and Observances
Volcanoes
Olympic Cities
100

This precious metal was discovered in Rabbit Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River in Alaska on August 16th, 1896, sparking a large migration to the region for the next three years.

Gold

100

The month of August is named after this first Roman Emperor, who was the grand-nephew of another famous Roman ruler, Julius Caesar.

Augustus Caesar

100

On August 24, 79 CE, this ancient city in what is now Italy was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, buried under 19 feet of ash and debris.

Pompeii

100

The first modern-day Olympics were held in this city in 1896, a nod to the ancient games that inspired the modern day competition.

Athens

200

On August 21st, 1959, President Dwight D Eisenhower signed a proclamation declaring this state the 50th state in the Union.

Hawaii

200

Multiple choice – August has three birthstones: the spinel, the sardonyx, and this rare green gem, which is formed under extreme conditions.

a. Jade
b. Peridot
c. Emerald

 

Peridot

200

Hot liquid rock is known as magma while it is under surface or inside the volcano. Once it reaches the surface, the liquid rock is known as this.

Lava

200

This city hosted the third games and the first Olympics in the United States in 1904, the same year that it also hosted the World’s Fair (where the ice cream cone was invented).

St. Louis, Missouri

300

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution took effect on August 18, 1920, which guaranteed this group the right to vote.

Women

300

Every year August 20th is the day of observation for this annoying, blood-sucking insect.

Mosquitos

300

Most of Earth’s active volcanoes are found on the “Ring of Fire”, a 40,000 km horseshoe shaped area around this ocean.

The Pacific

300

This country has hosted the most Olympic games, by a wide margin.

The United States

400

This president signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6th, 1965.

Lyndon B Johnson

400

August has two birth flowers, the tall, stately gladiolus and this bright and colorful papery flower, the seeds of which are popular in baking.

Poppy

400

In 1980, Mt. St. Helen’s exploded in this northwest state.

Washington

400

The Summer Olympics in 2016 were scheduled to be held in Berlin, Germany but were ultimately cancelled due to this global conflict.

World War I

500

This explorer set sail from Spain on August 3rd, 1492, with three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

Christopher Columbus

500

August 21st is a national day of recognition for this group of Americans, who are the reason this center exists.

Senior citizens

500

Multiple choice: Volcanos exist throughout the solar system. In fact, the largest known volcano, Olympus Mons, is found not on Earth, but on this planet.

a. Pluto
b. Mars
c. Neptune

Mars

500

The 1900 Olympics were held in this European city to coincide with the World's Fair that same year. 124 years later, the same city hosted the Olympics again.

Paris, France