On this day: June 10

Cold War Tensions Rise After Soviet Missile Tests Near NATO Airspace

On June 10, 1983, Soviet strategic missile and naval missile tests prompted alarm in NATO capitals and renewed concern over escalation risks during a volatile period of East–West confrontation.

The First Modern Marathon Is Run in Athens

On June 10, 1896, Greek runner Spyridon Louis won the marathon held during the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, a 40-kilometer course inspired by the ancient Marathon-to-Athens legend and organized as part of the revival of the Olympic movement.

Nationwide Strikes Paralyze Paris on June 10, 1968

On June 10, 1968, Paris was brought to a standstill as mass strikes and protests—part of the wider unrest of May–June 1968—shut down transportation, closed shops and halted public services across the city.

New York City Opens Its First Public Zoo in 1899

On June 10, 1899, New York City opened its first municipally accessible zoo in the Bronx, marking a shift toward public education and recreation through zoological displays amid Progressive Era urban reforms.

First Public Demonstration of Electric Hearing Aids Held in London, 1914

On June 10, 1914, an early electromechanical hearing aid was publicly demonstrated in London, marking a milestone in assistive-audio technology as inventors showcased devices that amplified sound using carbon and electromagnetic components.