Today in History graphic for July 25 featuring the Face on Mars photograph, the first IVF baby, AC/DC's Back in Black, and the Kalamazoo River oil spill.

July 25 in History: Viking 1 Photographs the Face on Mars, the First IVF Baby Is Born, and AC/DC Releases “Back in Black”

Scott Winters July 25, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on July 25 in history as remarkable achievements, historic milestones, technological advances, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on July 25 in History?

Important events on this day include Viking 1 capturing the famous “Face on Mars” photograph, the birth of the world’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization, AC/DC releasing Back in Black, and the Kalamazoo River oil spill becoming Michigan’s worst environmental disaster.

JULY 25 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1850 – Gold was discovered in the Rogue River in Oregon.

1866 – Ulysses S. Grant was named General of the Army. He was the first American officer to hold the rank.

1871 – Seth Wheeler patented perforated wrapping paper. (I’ve never heard of “perforated wrapping paper”!)

1946 – Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis worked as a team for the first time at Club 500 in Atlantic City, NJ.

1956 – The Italian liner Andrea Doria sank after a collision with the Swedish ship Stockholm, 45 miles south of Nantucket Island, killing 51.

1969 – Ted Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident in Chappaquiddick, MA.

1976 – Viking 1 photographed a rock formation on Mars that later became famous as the “Face on Mars” because of the way light and shadows created the illusion of a human face.

1978 – Louise Joy Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby, was born in England. She had been conceived through in vitro fertilization.

1978 – Pete Rose, of the Cincinnati Reds, had a hit in his 38th straight game to break the National League record for consecutive base hits.

1979 – In Miami, FL, a jury convicted Ted Bundy of first-degree murder in the slayings of Florida State University sorority sisters Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy.

1980 – The band AC/DC released their 7th studio album, “Back in Black”, which became the 2nd best selling album of all time.

1984 – Terry Bradshaw retired after 14 years and four Super Bowl championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1985 – It was confirmed that Rock Hudson had AIDS.

1990 – Rosanne Barr sang the National Anthem in San Diego before a Padres baseball game. She was booed for her performance.

1999 – Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France. He was only the second American to win the race.

1999 – In Bath, England, fragments of a man’s false teeth were found in his windpipe eight years after he thought he lost them in a traffic accident. Mike Russell suffered severe breathing difficulties until doctors finally found four front teeth, still attached to a dental plate, wedged above the entrance to his right lung. They were removed in ten minutes and his breathing improved immediately.

2010 – An Enbridge pipeline ruptured near Marshall, Michigan, spilling more than one million gallons of diluted bitumen into the Kalamazoo River system in the state’s largest environmental disaster.

2010 – WikiLeaks published more than 90,000 internal reports about the War in Afghanistan to the public. It was one of the largest leaks in U.S. military history.

2013 – Scientists in Britain identified the mechanism that causes human allergy to cats. They said a general cure for the condition could be available in the next five years.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 25:

John Gibson – 80 years old (1946) – Radio host

Jack Thompson – 75 years old (1951) – Lawyer and activist

Verdine White – 75 years old (1951) – Bass player and producer

Robert Zoellick – 73 years old (1953) – Banker and politician, 14th United States Deputy Secretary of State

Frances Arnold – 70 years old (1956) – Scientist and engineer (Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2018)

Alexei Filippenko – 68 years old (1958) – Astrophysicist and academic

Thurston Moore – 68 years old (1958) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Geoffrey Zakarian – 67 years old (1959) – Chef and author

Justice Howard – 66 years old (1960) – Photographer

Illeana Douglas – 65 years old (1961) – Actress

Katherine Kelly Lang – 65 years old (1961) – Actress

Doug Drabek – 64 years old (1962) – Baseball player and coach

Anne Applebaum – 62 years old (1964) – Journalist and author

Tony Granato – 62 years old (1964) – Ice hockey player and coach

Breuk Iversen – 62 years old (1964) – Designer and journalist

Marty Brown – 61 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Illeana Douglas – 61 years old (1965) – Actress, director, producer, and screenwriter

Torey Lovullo – 61 years old (1965) – Baseball player and coach

Maureen Herman – 60 years old (1966) – Bass player

Matt LeBlanc – 59 years old (1967) – Actor and producer

Wendy Raquel Robinson – 59 years old (1967) – Actress

Jon Barry – 57 years old (1969) – Basketball player and sportscaster

D. B. Woodside – 57 years old (1969) – Actor

Roger Creager – 55 years old (1971) – Singer-songwriter

Tracy Murray – 55 years old (1971) – Basketball player

Billy Wagner – 55 years old (1971) – Baseball player and coach

David Denman – 53 years old (1973) – Actor

Lauren Faust – 52 years old (1974) – Animator, producer, and screenwriter

Brian Gibson – 51 years old (1975) – Bass player

Javier Vázquez – 50 years old (1976) – Puerto Rican-American baseball player

Kenny Thomas – 49 years old (1977) – Basketball player

Gerard Warren – 48 years old (1978) – Football player

Shawn Riggans – 46 years old (1980) – Baseball player

David Wachs – 46 years old (1980) – Actor and producer

Conor Casey – 45 years old (1981) – Soccer player

Mac Lethal – 45 years old (1981) – Rapper and producer

Robert Clardy – 42 years old (1984) – Football coach

James Lafferty – 41 years old (1985) – Actor and athlete

Shantel VanSanten – 41 years old (1985) – Actress and model

Richard Bachman – 39 years old (1987) – Ice hockey player

Hasan Piker – 35 years old (1991) – Twitch streamer

Alvin Kamara – 31 years old (1995) – Football player

Jaafar Jackson – 30 years old (1996) – Actor and singer

Meg Donnelly – 26 years old (2000) – Actress

Shakira Austin – 26 years old (2000) – Basketball player

Bryce Young – 25 years old (2001) – Football player

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 25:

National Wine and Cheese Day: Pairing aged vino with savory nibbles creates an exquisite duet of flavors that tantalizes the palate and ignites conversations.
National Day of the Cowboy: Saddle up and get ready to ride into the sunset with the excitement of the Wild West! Cowboys are the ultimate symbol of grit and adventure.
National Hire a Veteran Day: Providing meaningful employment offers gratitude, dignity, and a fresh start for those who have served their country.
National Hot Fudge Sundae Day: Fudge and ice cream, one of the greatest combos in the world: head to an ice cream parlor, or make your own tasty, creamy, sweet hot fudge sundae at home.
Carousel Day: Find a local fair or amusement park, or a designated carousel and have some old-fashioned fun. Or, stay home and watch the hit musical, “Carousel”.
International Red Shoe Day: International Red Shoe Day is a vibrant and meaningful event that highlights the struggles faced by those with invisible illnesses. This day encourages kindness and empathy, aiming to create a world where invisible illnesses are better understood and acknowledged. Participants wear red shoes to bring attention to diseases like Lyme disease...
St. James TG: St. James TG is a vibrant celebration honoring Saint James the Great, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and the patron saint of Spain. This day brings together many people to remember his dedication and significant role in spreading Christianity. The main reasons for celebrating St. James TG include honoring his...
International Day on Judicial Well-being: Judicial professionals work long hours, face intense pressure, and often deal with emotionally heavy cases. The International Day on Judicial Well-being brings attention to the mental and emotional health of judges. Judges and court staff carry a weight that can affect their sleep, relationships, and clarity. When stress builds up...
International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent: The International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent lifts up those whose stories often go unheard. It celebrates strength that grows in the face of unfairness. These women and girls carry deep histories, bold dreams, and the will to keep moving. Some lead in science. Others create art, care...
Paddle for Perthes Disease Awareness Day: Perthes disease affects the hip joint in young children, causing pain and limping. It happens when blood stops reaching the ball part of the hip, leading to bone damage. Kids may struggle to play, walk, or keep up with friends. Treatment often includes rest, therapy, and sometimes surgery. Though it isn’t...
National Thread the Needle Day: Look at your life and see if there are any areas where you feel stuck between two paths. Maybe there’s a way to “thread the needle” and have it both ways.
World Drowning Prevention Day: According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), each year almost 1/4 million people lose their lives in a drowning accident, with a large portion of these being children ages 1 to 14. Drowning is caused by a very quick, surprising incident that often happens in just a few...
Health and Happiness with Hypnosis Day: Health and Happiness with Hypnosis Day invites people to look at hypnosis in a fresh, friendly way. Far from a stage trick, hypnosis gently guides the mind into a calm, focused state. It helps quiet racing thoughts and supports healthy changes—whether that's easing stress, breaking habits, or sleeping more soundly. The...
Culinarians Day: Culinarians Day celebrates every person who crafts good food. It shines on chefs, bakers, caterers, and home cooks alike. It honors how these people mix art with science in the kitchen. It spotlights their care for taste, texture, and presentation. It brings a burst of gratitude for meals that delight...
National Zoo Keeper Week: Dedicated professionals caring for exotic animals, ensuring their well-being, educating the public, and contributing to conservation efforts.
National Moth Week: Sign up for an event or citizen project during Moth Week to get involved, take and post photos, and get a good look at the interesting varieties of moths out there.
National Parenting Gifted Children Week: The unique joys and challenges of nurturing exceptional talents, fostering creativity, and supporting their emotional growth.