Featured moment
Brown v. Board of Education
The US Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Separate is not equal.
Brown v. Board of Education changed America, Godzilla crushed Tokyo, and Lord of the Rings was published.
The Cost of Living in 1954
Gallon of Gas
$0.29
Loaf of Bread
$0.17
Gallon of Milk
$0.90
World Population
2.72 billion
Featured moment
Godzilla Released in Japan
Ishirō Honda's kaiju film tapped into nuclear anxieties and birthed one of cinema's longest-running franchises.
Featured moment
The Lord of the Rings Published
J.R.R. Tolkien published the first two volumes of his epic high fantasy masterpiece.
The wider picture
More from 1954
A few more things worth remembering.
Science & Space
First Mass Inoculation of Polio Vaccine
Children in Pittsburgh received the Salk vaccine, beginning the eradication of the disease in the US.
Sports
Roger Bannister Breaks the 4-Minute Mile
The British runner achieved what was previously thought to be physically impossible.
Technology
First Transistor Radio
The Regency TR-1 was released, becoming the most popular electronic communication device in history.
Pop Culture
Sports Illustrated First Published
The iconic sports magazine debuted, helping to popularize professional sports in America.
You arrivedin 1954.
The longer view
This was only the opening scene.
Follow the world as it changed around you, from 1954 to today.