1997 Newspaper Headlines
Historic Newspapers’ collection of 1997 news articles features some of the years most jaw-dropping headlines from natural disasters to political scandals to celebrity gossip. Memorable 1997 headlines include the inauguration of Bill Clinton for his second term, scientists announcement that the first animal had been cloned successfully the year before, and the death of fashion designer and icon Gianni Versace.
One of the most shocking stories of the year was the announcement that Diana Princess of Wales had died in a car accident in Paris. Diana was loved by the British nation and around the world, which earned her the nickname “The People’s Princess”, and her death was widely mourned throughout the world. It was an eventful year in history. You can read all about these events and more in an original 1997 newspaper from Historic Newspapers.
January 20, 1997
President Bill Clinton is inaugurated for his second term.
February 8, 1997
Corey Scott, motorcycle stunt rider is killed in front of a crowd of around 30,00 spectators. He was performing a stunt at the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, Florida, which went terribly wrong.
February 10, 1997
After hearing allegations of misconduct, the United States Army suspends Gene C. McKinney, Sergeant Major of the Army and its stop-ranking enlisted soldier.
February 22, 1997
In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned. Dolly is the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. She was born in July 1996 and died in 2003.
March 9, 1997
American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles.
March 22, 1997
The comet ‘Hale-Bopp’ makes its closest approach to Earth.
May 2, 1997
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is dedicated in Washington D.C.
May 25, 1997
Strom Thurmond becomes the longest-serving member of the United States Senate, serving 41 months and 10 months.
July 4, 1997
NASA’s Pathfinder space probe lands on the surface of Mars.
July 15, 1997
Fashion designer Gianni Versace is shot dead outside his Miami residence by spree killer Andrew Cunanan.
August 6, 1997
Microsoft buy a $150 million share of financially troubled Apple Computer.
August 31, 1997
Diana, Princess of Wales, is involved in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel in Paris. She is pronounced dead four hours later, at 04:00 a.m.
September 5, 1997
Mother Theresa of Calcutta dies of heart failure in Kolkata, India.
September 6, 1997
The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, takes place at Westminster Abbey and is watched by over two-billion people worldwide.
September 11, 1997
Scotland votes to create its own Parliament after 290 years of union with England.
October 15, 1997
Andy Green sets the first supersonic land speed record for the ‘ThrustSSC’ team, led by Richard Noble of the UK. ‘ThrustSSC’ goes through the flying mile course at Black Rock Desert, Nevada at an average speed of 1,227.985 km/h (763.035 mph).
October 16, 1997
The first color photograph appears on the front page of The New York Times.
December 19, 1997
“Titanic“, the highest-grossing movie of all time until the 2009 film Avatar, premieres.
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