NPR's best stories about history in 2023

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Martin Luther King Jr. waves to supporters on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Activists marked 60 years since the march in 2023. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Martin Luther King Jr. waves to supporters on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Activists marked 60 years since the march in 2023.

A lot of big news happened in 2023, but it was also a year to remember things that happened in other years.

That's right — we're diving into history with a year-end roundup of anniversaries.

It was 50 years ago that hip-hop began at a Bronx party. Exactly one month later, a brutal military coup in the South American country of Chile shocked many Americans into political action.

It's been 60 years since 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas three months later.

Israel declared independence 75 years ago, while Palestinians mourned 75 years since the Nakba, or catastrophe.

Without further ado, here's a list of articles from 2023 about notable historical happenings, organized by what month they originally occurred.

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The panel on the right, from KC Green's web comic strip "On Fire," became a popular online meme by 2014. KC Green hide caption

The panel on the right, from KC Green's web comic strip "On Fire," became a popular online meme by 2014.

2013: In 2023, it feels like the world is on fire. But it'll be OK if you just tell yourself, "this is fine" ... right? In 2013, Question Hound's most famous comic strip debuted, which over the years spawned a mass of internet memes.

1943: Casablanca opened nationwide in the U.S. The movie about refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe included actors who were refugees themselves.

1923: Sam Phillips was born. The record producer brought the world Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and B.B. King. He founded the legendary Memphis label Sun Records and was a key architect of rock 'n' roll. Here's his story.

Also in 1923: Prognosticators prognosticated a whole slew of ideas for a century in the future: "No More Hard Work By 2023!" (Note: It's not clear what month in 1923 these predictions were published, but we wrote about them in January.)

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The Branch Davidian cult compound observation tower near Waco, Texas, is engulfed in flames on April 19, 1993. The siege began in February. Tim Roberts/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The Branch Davidian cult compound observation tower near Waco, Texas, is engulfed in flames on April 19, 1993. The siege began in February.

2003: The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas as it returned to Earth. Seven astronauts were killed. NASA's deputy administrator talked with NPR about what she remembered from that day and how the disaster affected future missions.