The purpose of this page is to provide a comprehensive history of the world in 1957 along with links to sites dealing with this year. This is just the beginning. I'll be adding new fun stuff all the time. Check back frequently. In case you're wondering, I was born in 1957 and thought it would be fun to see what happened that year.
It was the year Sputnik I and II were launched.
It was the year schools in Little Rock Arkansas were forcibly integrated.
Eisenhower was starting his second term as US President.
Elvis was doing his thing.
The Cold War was in full swing.
The 57 Chevy was the car of choice.
Joe McCarthy(held Senate Communism hearings) died, as did Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie author).
The country of Ghana won its independence.
The country of Malaya attained sovereignty.
Hank Aaron was the National League's most valuable player.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was organized.
Richfield Oil established Alaska's first commercially viable oil production on the Swanson River.
Steve Allen was the host of "The Tonight Show."
The Teamsters Union was expelled from the AFL-CIO due to charges of corruption.
"West Side Story" opened on Broadway.
The International Geophysical Year (57 - 58) brought about a great amount of research into the environment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency was established to oversee the development and spread of nuclear technology and materials.
In the Middle East, the Suez Canal was closed due to conflicts.
Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn starred in Funny Face.
"I Love Lucy" was in its last year on TV. (Original episodes)
The "European Economic Community" (EEC) was established.
Willy Brandt became mayor of WestBerlin.
Humphrey Bogart died.
Daniel Bovet won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research into antihistamines.
"Bloom County" cartoonist Berkeley Breathed was born.
Antarctica explorer Richard Byrd died.
Albert Camus won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat.
Mao Tse Tung was in power in China
Juan Batista was in control in Cuba.
John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister of Canada.
US Congress passed the Civil Rights Act.
"Papa Doc" Francois Duvalier was elected President of Haiti.
Anthony Eden resigned as Prime Minister of England and was replaced by Harold MacMillan.
Gamal Abdel Nasser was elected President of Egypt.
The first commercial nuclear reactor was opened in Shippingport, PA.
The "Everly Brothers" released their hit single Wake Up Little Susie.
