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The Society
Thirty-three founding members meet at the Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C., to create "a society for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge." -
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History of National Geographic
This timeline documents the milestones of the 125 year old National Geographic publication. -
First Issue is sent to 200 charter members
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Alexander Graham Bell assumes Society presidency
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First North Pole Expedition
Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson are the first to reach the North Pole in National Geographic Society-supported expedition. -
First Issue with Photograph on the Cover
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Published first undersea articles by Jacques Yves-Cousteau
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Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall begins study of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream Park using National Geographic Society funds. -
First All-Color Issue
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Nat.Geo Flag into Space
John Glenn carries National Geographic Society flag on first U.S. orbital space flight. -
"Americans on Everest"
National Geographic television programming debuts with the National Geographic Special "Americans on Everest" on CBS. -
National Geographic Traveler
National Geographic Traveler, the travel magazine of the Society, is launched. -
Titanic Discovery
Results of R.M.S. Titanic discovery announced at National Geographic Society by Robert D. Ballard. -
Japanese National Geographic
Japanese edition of National Geographic magazine begins. It is the first local-language edition of the magazine, of which there are presently 33. -
National Geographic TV
National Geographic Television becomes a separate, taxable subsidiary company. -
National Geographic Channel on Cable
National Geographic Channel launches on cable and satellite television in the U.S. -
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic World magazine is renamed National Geographic Kids. Classroom magazine National Geographic for Kids is renamed National Geographic Explorer. -
National Geographic Bureau
National Geographic Speakers Bureau is formed, with more than three dozen journalists, photographers, adventurers and scientists in the program. -
National Geographic All Roads Film Project
National Geographic All Roads Film project launches, providing a global platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture filmmakers around the world to showcase their talents and cultures to a broader audience. -
National Geographic Fellows
National Geographic establishes its Fellows program to encourage flow of ideas between the Society and field experts. -
National Magazine Awards
On May 1, 2008, National Geographic won three National Magazine Awards—an award solely for its written content—in the reporting category for an article by Peter Hessler on the Chinese economy; an award in the photojournalism category for work by John Stanmeyer on malaria in the Third World; and a prestigious award for general excellence. -
Editor of the Year
The current Editor-in-Chief of the National Geographic Magazine is Chris Johns, who was named Editor of the Year in October 2008 by Advertising Age magazine at the American Magazine Conference. -
American Society of Magazine Editors Awards
National Geographic Magazine received the top ASME awards for photojournalism and essay -
Magazine of the Year Award.
National Geographic Magazine received the top-award from ASME—the Magazine of the Year Award. -
Global Exploration Fund
National Geographic launches its Global Exploration Fund, an initiative to fund research, conservation and exploration projects through regional centers around the globe. -
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE
Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron becomes first person to dive solo to the Mariana Trench as part of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, a joint scientific expedition by Cameron, National Geographic and Rolex to conduct deep-ocean research and exploration. -
#7 Ranked Consumer Magazine
National Geographic was ranked 7th among the Top 25 U.S. consumer magazines in 2012 with a 30.9 million-people heavy audience. -
National Geographic International Channel
National Geographic Channels International is launched; by June 2012, it reaches more than 350 million subscribers in 172 countries in 37 language
