Do You Know the Leap Year These Historical Events Happened?

By: Beth Hendricks
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Do You Know the Leap Year These Historical Events Happened?
Image: Wiki Commons by Harris & Ewing

About This Quiz

It's our first leap year since ... 2016! Did you miss it? Eh, chances are you probably wouldn't have given it a second thought ... until you got to Feb. 29 and realized it was still February and not March. It's OK; we hadn't given it much thought either.

The Gregorian calendar (that's the one most everyone on the planet follows today) determines leap years by the following criteria:

1. The year is evenly divisible by 4.
2. The year is not evenly divisible by 100.
3. Or, the year is not evenly divisible by 100, but is divisible by 400.

Confused? Does it help if we throw in the bit about needing leap years to help keep our calendar aligned with the Earth's revolution around the Sun? Yeah, we didn't think so.

Let's face it: Leap year? It's kind of weird. People born on Feb. 29 only have an "official" birthday once every four years. That can make a grown man of 28 really only 7 years old. Those of us who work salaried jobs give our companies an extra "free" day during a leap year. And, well, if you happen to be incarcerated serving a year's sentence during a leap year? Congrats, you get to serve one more day.

But, it is just one day and the year goes on. And, some pretty significant things have happened in those leap years. Do you think you can name these monumental events that happened in these 366-day years? Hop through these leap year trivia questions - let's go!



2 - Green Eggs and Ham
CBS
Do you know which year Dr. Seuss served up "Green Eggs and Ham?"
1992
1960
1880
1912
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Green Eggs and Ham" was published in 1960 and fans of Dr. Seuss went wild. The book, which features Sam-I-Am offering green eggs and ham "with a mouse" (among other options), is one of Seuss's most beloved works.

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33 - Elvis Presley
Wiki Commons by Uncredited
The "King of Rock and Roll" released his self-titled debut album in one of these years. Which was it?
1936
1966
1956
1946
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elvis' self-titled first album was released in March 1956 and promptly spent 10 weeks atop Billboard's Top Pop Albums. It earned platinum status in August 2011, awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America.

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3 - Facebook
Delmaine Donson/E+/Getty Images
Everyone's minute-by-minute obsession — Facebook — got its start in which of these leap years?
2002
2004
2008
1996
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Facebook was launched in February of 2004 ... and the rest, as they say, is history. Mark Zuckerberg is credited with the social platform, which was named after a directory of student photos handed out at Harvard.

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4 - War of 1812
Ryan Courson Photography/Moment Open/Getty Images
This conflict between the United States and Great Britain was so significant, it derived its name from the year it began. Can you finish the War of _________?
1812
1820
1944
1976
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The War of 1812 began, of course, in 1812, but it didn't conclude for three years — in 1815. The conflict was between the United States and Great Britain, over things like trade restrictions and land acquisition.

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29 - Amelia Earhart
Wiki Commons by Smithsonian Institution
In this year, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to successfully fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. When did it happen?
1884
1816
1932
1982
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leaving from Newfoundland, Canada, Earhart navigated a 15-hour, 2,026-mile flight, landing her Lockheed Vega on the coast of Ireland. Not only was it the first solo flight across the Atlantic from a female pilot, but it was also the longest nonstop flight by a woman.

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5 - girl scouts
filmstudio/E+/Getty Images
"Be prepared" to find the leap year that the Girl Scouts of the United States organization was founded. When was it?
1808
1872
1912
1992
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Girl Scouts started in March 1912 under the direction of Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low. The first meeting included 18 girls in a Savannah, Georgia, troop. We're forever grateful for that first meeting ... and Thin Mints!

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6 - Ellis Island
Wiki Commons by Bain News Service, publisher
The first immigrants to America passed through the doors of Ellis Island in which of these years?
1932
1968
1804
1892
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A 15-year-old was the first official immigrant to pass through Ellis Island Immigration Station, which operated for more than 60 years. Ellis Island lies in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, a compelling first impression of a new life.

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27 - Mr. Potato Head
Hasbro
The very first Mr. Potato Head, who went on to star in movies like "Toy Story," was sold in which of these years?
1928
1916
1952
1852
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mr. Potato Head, a collection of eyes, ears and noses, was first sold to the public in May 1952. Its creator, George Lerner, was looking for a way to make vegetables more appealing to kids.

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12 - pop tart
Wiki Commons by Scott Ehardt
Everyone's favorite toaster pastry, the Pop-Tart, was invented in which of these leap years?
1824
1964
1994
1844
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thank the leap year 1964 for the breakfast treat loved by millions. Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's most popular brand, were conceived of thanks to a shelf-stable moist dog food that didn't need refrigeration. (True story.) Think of that next time you're chowing down on your Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

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32 - Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
Wiki Commons by From a painting by J. Mund
The most famous duel in America didn't happen on IG; it took place between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in which of these years?
1892
1804
1904
1952
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The year was 1804 and nobody was there to upload it to YouTube, but it happened nonetheless. Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr met face-to-face in the dueling pistols event in Weehawken, New Jersey.

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13 - Apple computer garage
Chris Prouse via YouTube
Much has been made over Apple starting in a garage, but do you know what year it happened?
1996
1936
1976
1952
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Apple Computer was founded in 1976 in a garage in Cupertino, California. And, though Steve Jobs is frequently credited with its creation, there were actually two additional co-founders: Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.

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14 - Abraham Lincoln
Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Moment/Getty Images
Honest Abe: America's 16th president was elected during which of these leap years?
1860
1828
1924
1940
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Lincoln Memorial is what stands today to remind us of the contributions of America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln served five years before he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in 1965 — not a Leap Year, in case you were wondering.

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15 - Nelson Mandela
Wiki Commons by South Africa The Good News / www.sagoodnews.co.za
Do you know what year anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela was incarcerated?
1920
1962
1888
1990
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned from 1962 to 1990 for his anti-apartheid work in South Africa. He grew more popular even in prison and was eventually elected as his country's first black president.

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16 - Barack Obama
Wiki Commons by Marco Schulze
History was made in this leap year when the first African-American president of the United States was elected. When did it happen?
2010
2002
2008
2012
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barack Obama beat John McCain for the office of the president of the United States in November 2008. He was the country's first black president and renowned for his oratory skills.

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17 - D-day
John Parrot/Stocktrek Images/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images
More than 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on what has come to be known as "D-Day." What year did it happen?
1996
1944
1930
1888
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Normandy invasion in 1944, known colloquially as D-Day, changed the course of World War II forever. More than 156,000 troops from the United States, Canada and Great Britain stormed the beaches on Normandy in the largest sea invasion in history.

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18 - Donald Trump inauguration
Wiki Commons by U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Gabriel Silva
The Republicans won the White House in this year when businessman Donald J. Trump was elected to office. Which leap year was it?
2010
2018
2016
2012
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This one didn't happen all that long ago, so if you keep up with politics at all, you know that this year is an election year and Trump has been in office since leap year 2016. Trump beat Democratic contender Hillary Clinton for the office.

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23 - National Park Service
avid_creative/E+/Getty Images
The National Parks Service, which manages our nation's parks and monuments, was created in which of these leap years?
1916
1888
2000
1968
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Created in 1916, the National Parks Service manages places like Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The legislation that was approved by lawmakers placed the NPS inside the Department of the Interior.

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1 - New Years Eve Times Square
Photo by Gesine Kelly/Moment Open/Getty Images
New Year's Eve's biggest party — in Times Square — has been going on for a long time, but do you know the year it started?
1812
1904
1984
2004
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While it wasn't the world's first New Year's Eve, it WAS the first New Year's Eve party to go down in Times Square, way back in 1904. It would be another four years before the first "ball" would be dropped, however.

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19 - 1896 Olympics
Wiki Commons by Unknown
Can you guess which of these years gave us the first modern Summer Olympics?
1896
1948
1812
1924
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Games of the I Olympiad, held in 1896, gave us the first international sporting event we know today as the Summer Olympics. The first took place in Athens, Greece. Tokyo will host the XXXII Olympic Summer Games in 2020.

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20 - Miracle On Ice  Sochi 2014
Olympic via YouTube
"Do you believe in miracles?" The "Miracle on Ice" hockey game between the U.S. and Russian hockey teams took place which year?
2000
1980
1988
1992
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. hockey team defeated the Russians in a game dubbed the "Miracle on Ice" in February 1980. The game was particularly stunning because it pitted a bunch of collegiate players against international professionals.

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10 - Ramstein air show disaster
Image Source/Image Source/Getty Images
Seventy people died during the Ramstein air show disaster when three aircraft collided and fell to the ground. What year did it happen?
1908
1988
2002
1840
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Considered one of the world's most deadly air show disasters, the 1988 Ramstein air show disaster in Germany had an audience of 300,000. A mid-air collision that fell to the runway contributed to the 70 deaths and more than 300 people injured.

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21 - Immaculate Reception
NFL
Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception," one of the NFL's most iconic plays, happened during which of these football seasons?
1992
1982
1972
1962
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Franco Harris, a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, hauled in the catch known as the "Immaculate Reception" off a deflection, carrying it into the end zone for a touchdown. The sports moment happened two days before Christmas in 1972.

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22 - Geraldine Ferraro
Wiki Commons by Nancy Wong
Girl power! The first woman to run on a major political party's president ticket did so in which of these years?
1984
1992
1908
1868
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The year was 1984 and Geraldine Ferraro found herself on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale, going against the Republican incumbent Ronald Reagan. Of course, Reagan ended up winning, but it was a major victory for women everywhere.

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24 - USS Cole
MC3 Kayla Jo Finley/U.S. Navy
An attack on the U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Cole, happened during this Leap Year in Yemen. When was it?
1982
1948
2000
1836
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The USS Cole bombing happened in October 2000 as the destroyer was sitting in the port of Aden in Yemen. The suicide attack claimed the lives of 17 American sailors and caused injuries to more than three dozen others.

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25 - Special Olympics 1968
Special Olympics via YouTube
The inaugural Special Olympics Games took place for the first time in Chicago in one of these leap years. Which is it?
1968
1880
1908
2000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of the late President John F. Kennedy, is credited with launching the modern-day Special Olympics we've come to know and love. Special Olympics supports activities for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

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26 - Centennial Olympic Park bombing
NBC
A movie about the Centennial Olympic Park bombing came out in 2019, but when did the actual event happen?
1996
1992
1982
1988
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Centennial Olympic Park bombing took place in 1996 during the Summer Olympics hosted in Atlanta. A presumed culprit was initially fingered, but authorities later discovered the actual culprit was another man entirely (and that's the premise of the film, "Richard Jewell.")

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9 - Nazi Party
Wiki Commons by Unknown
Think hard! Do you know what year the Nazi party was formed in Germany?
1920
1820
1864
1956
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nazi Party was birthed in 1920, but wouldn't rise to power for several more years. The party came to be as a result of a paramilitary culture that sought to move people away from communism to nationalism.

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28 - Mall of America
Owen Franken/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images
The United States' largest shopping mall, the Mall of America in Minnesota, opened its doors in one of these leap years. Which was it?
1992
1956
1968
2002
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The original mall, which opened its doors in 1992, covered nearly 80 acres at the site of the Minnesota Vikings' former home field, Metropolitan Stadium. Today, the mall is home to more than 500 stores and 60 restaurants.

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11 - movie theater
Michael Blann/DigitalVision/Getty Images
"The Dark Knight Rises" was playing at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater when a shooting that killed 12 people took place. When did it happen?
2012
2000
2008
1996
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It seems like yesterday, but it's been almost eight years since the tragic shooting at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The shooter, whom we won't name, entered through an emergency exit to commit his senseless act of violence.

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8 - Auschwitz
Wiki Commons by xiquinhosilva
It was a dark day in history when the first concentration camp at Auschwitz was established. What leap year did it happen?
1988
1914
1852
1940
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The largest of the Nazi-built concentration camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau, was opened in 1940 in south Poland. In the five years it was in operation, it is estimated that more than one million people perished on its grounds.

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30 - telegraph
Wiki Commons by Zubro
The first telegraphic message — a Bible verse — was dispatched by Samuel Morse in this year. Which was it?
1844
1944
2004
1890
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Samuel Morse is credited with the first telegraphic message to be dispatched, a Bible verse that made its way from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Maryland. Morse is also known as the person who invented the telegraph machine.

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31 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
duncan1890/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images
We first met Huck Finn in 1875, but Mark Twain published "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" a few years later. When did it happen?
1934
1928
1984
1884
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was published in 1884, several years after we first met Huck Finn in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Mark Twain is widely considered one of America's greatest novelists.

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7 - Custer Little Bighorn
Wiki Commons by Charles Marion Russell
Custer's Last Stand, also known as the Battle of Little Bighorn, took place in which of these leap years?
1800
1972
1876
1844
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was late June 1876 when Colonel George Custer fought — and lost — at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Nearly 270 U.S. soldiers were killed in the confrontation with members of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

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34 - penicillin
NNehring/E+/Getty Images
A drug many of us have taken — penicillin — was discovered by Alexander Fleming in a leap year. Which one was it?
1882
1928
1948
1988
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in September 1928 would have a profound impact on the health and well-being of people for the next nearly 100 years. The antibiotic has been used to treat a multitude of illnesses and infections.

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35 - Martin Luther King Jr
Wiki Commons by Dick DeMarsico
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray in April of this leap year. When did it happen?
1940
1956
1962
1968
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Martin Luther King Jr. died after he was shot outside his motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. James Earl Ray was convicted in King's death. Many believe he had been planning the shooting for months.

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Wiki Commons by Harris & Ewing