Major Events of February 1990: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 1990 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of February 1990: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 1990 Super Mario Bros. 3 released in North America: Super Mario Bros. 3, a platform game developed by Nintendo, was released in North America on February 12, 1990. The game introduced new power-ups and features, becoming one of the best-selling NES games of all time. source: giantbomb.com
- 02 Feb 1990 De Klerk announces dismantling of apartheid in South Africa: On February 2, 1990, South African President F.W. de Klerk delivered a landmark speech at the opening of Parliament, announcing the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan Africanist Congress, and the South African Communist Party. He also committed to releasing Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, signaling the beginning of the end of apartheid. This pivotal moment set the stage for negotiations leading to a democratic South Africa. source: news.bbc.co.uk
- 03 Feb 1990 Bill Shoemaker's final race at Santa Anita Park: On February 3, 1990, legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker rode his last race at Santa Anita Park, finishing fourth aboard Patchy Groundfog in a race dubbed "The Legend's Last Ride." A crowd of 64,573 attended the event, marking the end of Shoemaker's illustrious 41-year career, during which he achieved 8,833 victories. source: theguardian.com
- 04 Feb 1990 1990 Cairo bus attack: On February 4, 1990, a bus carrying Israeli tourists was attacked in Cairo, Egypt, resulting in nine Israeli civilians killed and 17 others wounded. The assault was claimed by two groups: the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and an unknown group calling itself the 'Organisation for the Defense of the Oppressed of Egypt's Prisons'. The attack was the worst on Israelis in Egypt since the two countries signed a peace agreement in 1979. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 05 Feb 1990 250,000 Urge Reform in Protest at Kremlin: On February 5, 1990, approximately 250,000 people gathered outside the Kremlin in Moscow, demanding an end to the Soviet Union's one-party rule. This demonstration, one of the largest since the Bolshevik Revolution, highlighted the growing momentum for political and economic reforms in the Soviet Union. The protesters waved pre-revolutionary Russian flags and held placards urging party officials to 'Remember Romania,' referencing the recent overthrow of President Nicolae Ceaușescu. source: latimes.com
- 06 Feb 1990 Brett Hull scores 50th goal, joining father as 50-goal scorer: On February 6, 1990, Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues scored his 50th goal of the season in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. This achievement made him and his father, Bobby Hull, the first father-son duo in NHL history to each score 50 goals in a season. Bobby Hull, a five-time 50-goal scorer, was present at the game to witness his son's milestone. source: nhl.com
- 07 Feb 1990 American Trader oil spill near Huntington Beach, California: On February 7, 1990, the oil tanker American Trader ran over its own anchor while approaching an offshore mooring near Huntington Beach, California, causing two punctures in its cargo tank and releasing approximately 9,500 barrels (400,000 gallons) of Alaskan North Slope crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. The spill affected 15 miles of Orange County beaches, leading to the death of about 3,400 birds, including over 100 brown pelicans, an endangered species. Cleanup operations were completed by April 3, 1990. In 1995, British Petroleum agreed to pay nearly $3.9 million for restoration and settlement costs related to the spill. source: incidentnews.noaa.gov
- 08 Feb 1990 Andy Rooney suspended from '60 Minutes' for alleged racist remarks: In February 1990, CBS News suspended '60 Minutes' commentator Andy Rooney for three months after he was quoted in The Advocate magazine as saying that black people 'watered down' their genes because the less intelligent have the most children. Rooney vehemently denied making these remarks, stating, 'I did not say, nor would I ever have thought, that 'blacks have watered down their genes.'' He accepted the suspension in hopes it would not end his career. The suspension was later reduced to one month after public outcry and internal pressure from '60 Minutes' staff. Rooney returned to the program on March 1, 1990. source: washingtonpost.com
- 09 Feb 1990 Galileo spacecraft conducts Venus flyby for gravity assist: On February 9, 1990, NASA's Galileo spacecraft performed a gravity-assist flyby of Venus, passing approximately 10,000 miles above the planet's cloud tops. This maneuver increased Galileo's speed by about 4,990 mph (2.2 km/s), setting the trajectory for its journey to Jupiter. During the flyby, Galileo also conducted scientific observations of Venus's atmosphere and environment, with data stored for later transmission to Earth. source: solarsystem.nasa.gov
- 10 Feb 1990 Buster Douglas defeats Mike Tyson in Tokyo Dome: On February 11, 1990, James "Buster" Douglas achieved a stunning upset by knocking out Mike Tyson in the 10th round at the Tokyo Dome, ending Tyson's undefeated streak and capturing the undisputed heavyweight championship. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 11 Feb 1990 Nelson Mandela released from prison after 27 years: Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990, after spending 27 years in captivity. His release marked a significant turning point in South Africa's history, leading to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a multiracial democracy. Mandela's leadership and commitment to reconciliation were pivotal in the country's transition. source: britannica.com
- 12 Feb 1990 NATO and Warsaw Pact foreign ministers meet in Ottawa for Open Skies Conference: On February 12, 1990, foreign ministers from NATO and Warsaw Pact countries convened in Ottawa to initiate the Open Skies Conference. This meeting aimed to discuss mutual aerial surveillance overflights to promote transparency and confidence-building between the two blocs. The conference also addressed broader security issues, including German reunification and conventional arms reductions in Europe. source: nato.int
- 13 Feb 1990 Agreement reached on two-stage plan for German reunification: On February 13, 1990, foreign ministers from East and West Germany, along with the four Allied powers (United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union), met in Ottawa to discuss the reunification of Germany. They agreed to initiate negotiations on the external security aspects of unification, leading to the 'Two Plus Four' talks, which ultimately paved the way for Germany's reunification on October 3, 1990. source: thenation.com
- 14 Feb 1990 Voyager 1 captures 'Pale Blue Dot' photograph of Earth: On February 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft took a photograph of Earth from a distance of 3.7 billion miles (6 billion kilometers), capturing our planet as a tiny speck of light. This image, known as the 'Pale Blue Dot,' was part of a series of images intended to create the first 'family portrait' of the solar system. The photograph was taken just minutes before Voyager 1 powered off its cameras to conserve energy for its journey into interstellar space. source: science.nasa.gov
- 15 Feb 1990 IBM introduces RS/6000 RISC System/6000: On February 15, 1990, IBM announced the RISC System/6000 (RS/6000), a family of RISC-based servers, workstations, and supercomputers. This line replaced the IBM RT PC and was the first to utilize IBM's POWER and PowerPC microprocessors. The RS/6000 series was discontinued in October 2000 for servers and in 2002 for workstations. source: computinghistory.org.uk
- 16 Feb 1990 Keith Haring, iconic pop artist, dies at 31: Keith Haring, renowned for his vibrant pop art and street art, died on February 16, 1990, in New York City at the age of 31. He passed away due to complications from AIDS, a disease he had been diagnosed with in 1988. Haring's art, characterized by bold lines and energetic figures, continues to influence contemporary art and culture. source: britannica.com
- 17 Feb 1990 Sinéad O'Connor's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' leads UK charts: Sinéad O'Connor's rendition of 'Nothing Compares 2 U' reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on February 3, 1990, and held the top position for four consecutive weeks, including February 17, 1990. source: hotpress.com
- 18 Feb 1990 1990 Japanese general election results: On February 18, 1990, Japan held a general election for all 512 seats in the House of Representatives. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, secured 275 seats, maintaining a majority but losing 25 seats compared to the previous election. The Japan Socialist Party (JSP), under Takako Doi, made significant gains, winning 136 seats, an increase of 51 seats. Other parties, including Kōmeitō, the Japanese Communist Party, and the Democratic Socialist Party, experienced seat losses. Voter turnout was 73.31%. source: washingtonpost.com
- 19 Feb 1990 Nepalese police clash with pro-democracy protesters, resulting in fatalities: On February 18, 1990, thousands of students and activists in Kathmandu, Nepal, initiated pro-democracy demonstrations, marking the first such protests in 11 years. The following day, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, leading to violent confrontations. Reports indicate that at least four people were killed in these clashes, with some sources suggesting the death toll was higher. The protests were part of a broader movement demanding the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, which had been under a partyless system since 1960. source: washingtonpost.com
- 20 Feb 1990 President George H.W. Bush meets with President Václav Havel of Czechoslovakia: On February 20, 1990, President George H.W. Bush met with President Václav Havel of Czechoslovakia at the White House. This meeting marked the first visit by a Czechoslovak president to the United States since the Velvet Revolution, which led to the peaceful overthrow of the communist government in Czechoslovakia. The leaders discussed Europe's future and agreed to stay in touch amid the eventful period. source: georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov
- 21 Feb 1990 32nd Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles: The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 21, 1990, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by Garry Shandling, the ceremony recognized musical achievements from the previous year. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 22 Feb 1990 India and New Zealand draw third Test match in Auckland: The third Test between India and New Zealand took place at Eden Park, Auckland, from February 22 to 26, 1990. The match ended in a draw, with New Zealand scoring 391 and 483/5 declared, and India replying with 482 and 149/0. Notably, New Zealand's wicketkeeper Ian Smith was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. source: espncricinfo.com
- 23 Feb 1990 Voyager 1 captures 'Pale Blue Dot' image of Earth: On February 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft captured the 'Pale Blue Dot' image, showing Earth as a tiny speck from a distance of 3.7 billion miles. This photograph became iconic, symbolizing humanity's place in the vast cosmos. The image was part of a series taken to create the first 'family portrait' of the solar system. source: nasa.gov
- 24 Feb 1990 First multi-party elections in Lithuania since 1918: On February 24, 1990, Lithuania held its first multi-party elections since 1918, marking a significant step toward democracy. Voters elected members to the Supreme Soviet, with the pro-independence Sąjūdis movement endorsing candidates who won 91 seats, securing a majority. This election was part of a broader trend of democratization across Soviet republics during that period. source: washingtonpost.com
- 25 Feb 1990 Australia defeats Pakistan to win the 1989–90 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup: On February 25, 1990, Australia secured a 69-run victory over Pakistan in the second final of the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia set a target of 256 runs, scoring 255/6 in 50 overs, with Mark Taylor contributing 76 runs off 116 balls. Pakistan was all out for 186 in 45 overs, with Saleem Yousuf top-scoring at 59 runs off 75 balls. This win clinched the series for Australia with a 2-0 final score. source: espncricinfo.com
- 26 Feb 1990 Soviet Union begins withdrawal of troops from Czechoslovakia: On February 26, 1990, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Czechoslovak President Václav Havel signed an agreement in Moscow for the withdrawal of 73,500 Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia. The withdrawal commenced the same day, with the first Soviet tanks leaving the town of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. The process was to be completed by July 1, 1991, marking the end of a 21-year Soviet military presence in the country. source: washingtonpost.com
- 27 Feb 1990 Exxon and Exxon Shipping Co. indicted on multiple criminal charges related to Exxon Valdez oil spill: On February 27, 1990, a federal grand jury in Anchorage, Alaska, indicted Exxon Corporation and its subsidiary, Exxon Shipping Co., on five criminal charges stemming from the Exxon Valdez oil spill that occurred on March 24, 1989. The charges included violations of the Clean Water Act, the Refuse Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, and the Dangerous Cargo Act. If convicted on all counts, Exxon faced fines exceeding $700 million. Exxon denied the charges and vowed to mount a vigorous defense. source: washingtonpost.com
- 28 Feb 1990 STS-36 mission: Space Shuttle Atlantis launches classified Department of Defense payload: On February 28, 1990, Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on mission STS-36, the sixth dedicated Department of Defense mission. The crew, led by Commander John Creighton, deployed a classified satellite, believed to be the Misty reconnaissance satellite, into a 62-degree inclination orbit. The mission lasted four days, 10 hours, and 18 minutes, concluding with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California on March 4, 1990. source: nasa.gov