What happened on Aug. 28, 1963 at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom?

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech during the march at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The entry identifies it as one of the notable Aug. 28 historical events.

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2026

Q: What was the first American-built locomotive mentioned in Today in History for Aug. 28, 1830?

The locomotive was Tom Thumb, which raced a horse-drawn car from the Stockton and Stokes stagecoach company from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills. The horse won because the locomotive had mechanical problems.

Q: Which early events are listed for Aug. 28 in the historical timeline?

The timeline includes the start of the Siege of Acre in 1189, Liverpool’s charter in 1207, Henry Hudson’s 1609 voyage into Delaware Bay, and the first issue of Scientific American in 1845. It also includes the first human MRI scan in 1980 and the first Japanese Gay Pride Parade in 1994.

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Summary

Today in History lists events for Aug. 28 across centuries, from the Third Crusade siege of Acre in 1189 to the first Japanese Gay Pride Parade in 1994. It also notes King John’s charter for Liverpool in 1207, Henry Hudson’s 1609 voyage into Delaware Bay, and the first issue of Scientific American in 1845. Other entries include the 1830 Tom Thumb race, Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 I Have a Dream speech, and the first human MRI scan in 1980.

Key Facts

In 1207, King John of England granted Liverpool a charter giving the town the right to elect a mayor and aldermen.
In 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson became the first European to sail into Delaware Bay and named it South Bay.
On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Published Aug 27, 2026 11:10 am KST

1189-Third Crusade: Crusaders begin the Siege of Acre under Guy of Lusignan

1207-King John of England grants small town of Liverpool a charter (right to elect a mayor and aldermen)

1609-English explorer Henry Hudson is the first European to sail into Delaware Bay, naming it South Bay

1830-The first American-built locomotive, "Tom Thumb," races a horse-drawn car from the Stockton and Stokes stagecoach company from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills; due to mechanical problems, the horse wins!

1845-Scientific American magazine publishes its first issue

1963-Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom civil rights march at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

1980 — First use of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine to scan the human body at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland

1994-First Japanese Gay Pride Parade

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