This Year in History:
2001
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
After a bitterly contested election, Vice President Al Gore presides over a joint session of Congress that certifies George W. Bush as the winner of the 2000 election. In one…
On January 9, 2001, Apple launches iTunes, a media player that revolutionized the way people consumed digital media. Bill Kincaid and Jeff Robbin, two former Apple employees, developed an MP3…
On February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr., considered one of the greatest drivers in National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) history, dies at the age of 49 in…
In the year 2000, a new company called Napster created something of a music‑fan’s utopia—a world in which nearly every song ever recorded was instantly available on your home computer—for…
To some, Oscar night is more about the fashion than the awards themselves. Much of the audience tunes in to see who looks fabulous and who takes the biggest risks.…
On June 22, 2001, “The Fast and the Furious,” a crime drama based in the underground world of street racing in Southern California, debuts in theaters across the United States.…
On June 29, 2001, Boston doctor Dirk Greineder, 60, is found guilty of first‑degree murder in the death of Mabel Greineder, 58, his wife of more than 30 years. Dirk…
Five years of lobbying comes to fruition on September 1, 2001, as the U.S. Postal Service releases the first American stamp celebrating Muslim holidays. A blue stamp featuring gold calligraphy…
At approximately 8:46 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashes into the north tower of the World Trade…
On October 5, 2001, the Seattle Mariners become the winningest team in American League history for a regular season with a 6‑2 win over the Texas Rangers. The 115th win…
On October 7, 2001, a U.S.‑led coalition begins attacks on Taliban‑controlled Afghanistan with an intense bombing campaign by American and British forces. Logistical support was provided by other nations including…
The Office of Homeland Security is founded on October 8, 2001, less than one month after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Now a cabinet department, Homeland Security is now one…
On October 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act, an anti‑terrorism law drawn up in response to the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center on…
On November 10, 2001, in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, President George W. Bush addresses the United Nations…
An American Airlines flight out of John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York City crashes into a Queens neighborhood after takeoff on November 12, 2001, killing 265 people. Although…
Microsoft releases the Xbox gaming console on November 15, 2001, dramatically influencing the history of consumer entertainment technology. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates first decided to venture into the video game…
On November 16, 2001, the British author J.K. Rowling’s star creation—bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter—makes his big‑screen debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which opens in movie theaters…
On November 29, 2001, English musician and songwriter George Harrison dies at the age of 58. Harrison achieved global fame as a member of the Beatles and went on to…
On December 2, 2001, the Enron Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court, sparking one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history. An energy‑trading…
Ocean’s Eleven, a caper film featuring an all‑star ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts, opens in theaters. Ocean’s…
