January 10
January 10
AOL‑Time Warner merger announced
On January 10, 2000, in one of the biggest media mergers in history, America Online Inc. announces plans to acquire Time Warner Inc. for some $182 billion in stock and…
A Year In History: 2000
This Year in History:
2000
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
February 4
February 4
“The Sims” launches
On February 4, 2000, the revolutionary computer game The Sims debuts in North America. Electronic Arts does not have particularly high hopes for its new sandbox game, the brainchild of…
March 17
March 17
Julia Roberts collects $20 million for “Erin Brockovich”
With Erin Brockovich, released on March 17, 2000, Julia Roberts becomes the first actress ever to command $20 million per movie. Born in Smyrna, Georgia, on October 28, 1967, Roberts…
May 17
May 17
Final episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210” airs
Donna Martin (Tori Spelling) and David Silver (Brian Austin Green) finally say their vows, and on‑and‑off couple Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) and Dylan McKay (Luke Perry) reunite, as the curtain…
May 21
May 21
Former president James Garfield’s spine put on display for final day
On May 21, 2000, the bones of President James Garfield’s spine are on display for a final day at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C. The…
July 8
July 8
Venus Williams wins Wimbledon for the first time
On July 8, 2000, Venus Williams wins at Wimbledon for the first time. Her victory over defending champion, Lindsay Davenport, made Williams the first Black female Wimbledon champion since Althea Gibson won…
July 25
July 25
Concorde jet crashes, killing everyone onboard
An Air France Concorde jet crashes upon takeoff in Paris on July 25, 2000, killing 109 passengers and crew onboard as well as four people on the ground. The Concorde,…
July 29
July 29
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston wed
On July 29, 2000, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, one of Hollywood’s highest‑profile couples, marry at the Malibu, California, estate of the producer Marcy Carsey (The Cosby Show). The two…
August 12
August 12
Russian sub, the “Kursk,” sinks with 118 onboard
A Russian nuclear submarine sinks to the bottom of the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000; all 118 crew members are later found dead. The exact cause of the disaster…
August 23
August 23
First “Survivor” finale airs
On August 23, 2000, Richard Hatch, a 39‑year‑old corporate trainer from Rhode Island, wins the season‑one finale of the reality television show “Survivor” and takes home the promised $1 million…
September 19
September 19
Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize‑winning novel debuts
Michael Chabon’s third novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is published on September 19, 2000. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction the following year. …
October 12
October 12
USS Cole attacked by terrorists
At 12:15 p.m. local time, a motorized rubber dinghy loaded with explosives blows a 40‑by‑40‑foot hole in the port side of the USS Cole, a U.S. Navy destroyer that was…
November 2
November 2
First residential crew arrives aboard the International Space Station
On November 2, 2000, the first residential crew arrives aboard the International Space Station. The arrival of Expedition 1 marked the beginning of a new era of international cooperation in…
November 7
November 7
Hillary Clinton is elected to the U.S. Senate
On November 7, 2000, Hillary Rodham Clinton is elected to represent New York in the U.S. Senate, becoming the first First Lady to win elected office. Clinton’s resume was unique…
November 7
November 7
Election results between Al Gore and George Bush too close to call
This date in 2000 was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, as the presidential election results in a statistical tie between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George Bush. The results…
December 13
December 13
Texas Seven prison break
On December 13, 2000, seven convicts break out of a maximum‑security prison in South Texas, setting off a massive six‑week manhunt. The escapees, dubbed the “Texas Seven” by the media,…
December 13
December 13
Al Gore concedes presidential election
Vice President Al Gore concedes defeat to George W. Bush in his bid for the presidency, following weeks of legal battles over the recounting of votes in Florida, on December 13, 2000.…
