The first Earth Day was hosted on April 22, 1970.
Celebrations were held across the United States, with the two largest gatherings located in New York City …
The first Earth Day was hosted on April 22, 1970. Celebrations were held across the United States, with the two largest gatherings located in New York City and Washington, D.C. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day events around the country. Today, nearly 1 billion people celebrate Earth Day worldwide. The first Earth Day was spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. A former governor of the Badger State, Nelson had a long history of promoting conservation efforts in his homestate and across the country. The senator had a number of accomplishments, such as banning DDT and preserving the Appalachian Trail. Nelson and his Senate staff enlisted the help of law student Denis Hayes to serve as the national coordinator of Earth Day efforts.
