Major Events of February 2001: 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 2001 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of February 2001: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 2001 UK Music Chart Highlight: On February 1, 2001, the UK number one song was "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" by Limp Bizkit, which had topped the charts since January 27, 2001. source: mybirthdayhits.com
- 02 Feb 2001 Russia releases Chechnya relief worker: On February 2, 2001, Russia announced the release of a relief worker who had been detained in Chechnya. This event highlighted ongoing tensions and humanitarian issues in the region during the Second Chechen War. source: reuters.com
- 06 Feb 2001 Death of Filemon Lagman: Filemon Lagman, a prominent Filipino labor leader, passed away on February 6, 2001. His contributions to labor rights and advocacy in the Philippines were significant, and his death was widely mourned in the labor community. source: reuters.com
- 07 Feb 2001 Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-98 mission: Space Shuttle Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center on the STS-98 mission, marking the first human spaceflight of the 21st century. The mission's primary objective was to deliver the Destiny Laboratory Module to the International Space Station. source: nasa.gov
- 08 Feb 2001 Disney California Adventure Park opens: Disney California Adventure Park, a new theme park located in Anaheim, California, officially opened its doors to the public, offering a variety of attractions and entertainment options. source: disneyland.disney.go.com
- 09 Feb 2001 USS Greeneville collides with Ehime Maru: The U.S. Navy submarine USS Greeneville collided with the Japanese training vessel Ehime Maru off the coast of Hawaii, resulting in the sinking of the Ehime Maru and the loss of nine lives. source: nytimes.com
- 11 Feb 2001 Anna Kournikova computer virus outbreak: A computer worm named after Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova was released, spreading rapidly via email attachments and causing widespread disruptions in email systems worldwide. source: washingtonpost.com
- 12 Feb 2001 First spacecraft landing on an asteroid: The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft successfully landed on asteroid 433 Eros, marking the first time a spacecraft touched down on an asteroid. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 13 Feb 2001 2001 El Salvador earthquake: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck El Salvador, causing significant damage and loss of life. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 14 Feb 2001 U.S. and British military strike Iraqi targets: U.S. and British forces conducted airstrikes against Iraqi targets in the southern no-fly zone, aiming to enforce UN Security Council resolutions. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 15 Feb 2001 First draft of the complete human genome published in Nature: The first draft of the human genome was published in the journal Nature, marking a significant milestone in genomic research. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 16 Feb 2001 US and British forces bomb Iraqi air defenses: On February 16, 2001, U.S. and British military forces conducted airstrikes targeting Iraqi air defense systems, marking a significant escalation in military operations in the region. source: cnn.com
- 17 Feb 2001 Death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt died on February 17, 2001, following a crash during the Daytona 500 race, leading to widespread mourning in the racing community. source: nytimes.com
- 18 Feb 2001 FBI agent Robert Hanssen arrested for espionage: On February 18, 2001, FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested and charged with espionage for allegedly spying for Russia over a period of 15 years. source: cnn.com
- 19 Feb 2001 Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum opens to the public: The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, dedicated to honoring the victims, survivors, and rescuers of the 1995 bombing, opened its doors to the public on February 19, 2001. source: nps.gov
- 20 Feb 2001 First draft of human genome published: On February 20, 2001, the first draft of the human genome was published, marking a significant milestone in genetics research. source: fbi.gov
- 21 Feb 2001 FBI agent charged with espionage: On February 21, 2001, FBI agent Robert Hanssen was formally charged with espionage for allegedly spying for Russia. source: fbi.gov
- 23 Feb 2001 Taliban destruction of Bamyan Buddha statues: On February 23, 2001, the Taliban destroyed the ancient Bamyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan. source: fbi.gov
- 24 Feb 2001 Claude Shannon, father of information theory, dies at 84: Claude Shannon, an American mathematician and electrical engineer known as the 'father of information theory,' passed away on February 24, 2001, at the age of 84. He was instrumental in developing the field of information theory and digital circuit design. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 25 Feb 2001 Death of Sir Donald Bradman, cricket legend: Sir Donald Bradman, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, passed away on February 25, 2001. His death marked the end of an era in the sport of cricket.
- 26 Feb 2001 Treaty of Nice signed: The Treaty of Nice was signed on February 26, 2001, aiming to reform the institutional structure of the European Union to facilitate its enlargement.