July 20

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye set out from Fort Kaministiquia in search of a route to the Pacific in 1738. On July 20, he reached the lake's western shore and documented its geography and native settlements. His expedition provided vital information for French colonial ambitions and the North American fur trade. The discovery highlighted the strategic importance of the Great Lakes as transportation corridors. Varennes’s journals influenced subsequent explorers and traders in the region. This event marked a key point in the European exploration of interior North America.

On the night of July 20, 2012, during the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, James Holmes entered the Century 16 theater in Aurora, Colorado, donned in tactical gear and unleashed a barrage of gunfire. Over a thousand moviegoers scrambled for cover as Holmes fired multiple weapons, ultimately killing 12 individuals and wounding 70 others. Responding officers quickly apprehended him outside the theater, ending the bloodbath. Investigations revealed extensive premeditation and raised urgent questions about mental health, gun control measures, and public safety protocols. The attack reignited nationwide debates over firearm legislation and security in public venues. Memorials and support groups emerged in the aftermath, seeking justice for the victims and advocating for tighter gun laws.