Timeline of Caracas

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Caracas, Venezuela.

Prior to 18th century

1567 – 25 July: Santiago de León de Caracas established by Spaniard Diego de Losada.
1577 – Town becomes capital of Venezuela Province, Spanish Empire.
1584 – St. George's Cathedral, Caracas built.
1591 – granted.
1593 – Iglesia de San Francisco built.
1595 – Town captured by English troops led by George Somers and Amyas Preston
1638 – Roman Catholic Diocese of Caracas founded.
1641 – 11 June: Earthquake.
1674 – Caracas Cathedral built.
1679 – Town "pillaged by the French."
1700 – Population: 6,000.

18th century

1721 – University of Caracas founded.
1749 – 20 April: Economic demonstration led by.
1763 – Measles outbreaks begin.
1765 – Population: 12,500.
1770 – Population: 20,000.
1777
* City becomes capital of Captaincy General of Venezuela.
* Santa Rosalia parish established.
1779 – City divided into eight administrative wards.
1781 – built.
1782 – Theatre built.
1787 – Real Audiencia of Caracas installed.
1793 – Consulado established.

19th century

1802 – Population: 24,000–42,000.
1808 – Gazeta de Caracas newspaper begins publication.
1810 – Revolt from Spanish control.
1811
* City becomes capital of First Republic of Venezuela.
* Divina Pastora parish established.
1812 – 26 March: Earthquake.
1813
* August: City taken by forces of Bolivar.
* City becomes capital of Second Republic of Venezuela.
1814 – July: 1814 Caracas Exodus.
1818 – Academy of music founded.
1820 – City becomes capital of Venezuela Department of Gran Colombia.
1821 – 29 June: Bolívar takes city.
1835 – Academia de Dibujo y Pintura founded.
1861 – established.
1870 – 27 April: April Revolution (Venezuela).
1874
* National Pantheon of Venezuela established.
* Bolívar statue erected in Bolívar Square.
1881
* Teatro Municipal de Caracas opens.
* City becomes part of the.
* Population: 55,638.
1882 – Horse-drawn streetcar begins operating.
1883
* La Guaira-Caracas railway begins operating.
* Basilica of Santa Capilla built.
* Academia Venezolana Correspondiente de la Real Española established.
1887 – Academia de Musica y Declamacion and Academia de Bellas Artes active.
1889 – Academia Nacional de la Historia de Venezuela inaugurated.
1891 – Population: 72,429.
1894 – Valencia-Caracas railway begins operating.
1895 – Electricidad de Caracas in business.
1897 – Miraflores Palace built.

20th century

1900 – Earthquake
1904 - Population: 90,000..
1905 – National Theatre opens.
1908 – Electric streetcar begins operating.
1909 – El Universal newspaper in publication.
1918 – Spanish flu reaches Caracas
1922 – Population: 92,212.
1928 – Generation of 1928 anti-Gómez protest.
1929 – Cine El Dorado opens in San Agustín Parish
1931
* Caracas Athenaeum founded.
* opens.
1937 – Municipal Commission of Town Planning established.
1941 – Population: 269,030 city; 380,099 federal district.
1945
* Simón Bolívar International Airport, Altamira Square, and. inaugurated.
* Caracas Journal newspaper begins publication.
1947 – Caracas Stock Exchange established.
1950
* British School established.
* Population: 495,064 city; 693,896 urban agglomeration.
1951 – Estadio Olímpico opens.
1952
* Aerial Tramway begins operating.
* Estadio Universitario opens.
1953
* Radio Caracas Televisión begins broadcasting.
* Cine Radio City opens.
1954 – Centro Simón Bolívar Towers built
1958 – El Mundo newspaper begins publication.
1959 – La Rinconada Hippodrome opens in Coche Parish
1960 – University City built.
1961 – Population: 786,710 city; 1,362,189 federal district.
1963 – December: Christmas display of illuminated begins.
1966 – CorpBanca Tower built.
1967
* 29 July: 1967 Caracas earthquake.
* Simón Bolívar University and Caracas Football Club established.
* Central Bank of Venezuela Building constructed.
1971 – Population: 1,662,627 city; 2,175,400 urban agglomeration.
1973 – Previsora Tower and Bet-El Synagogue built.
1974
* Poliedro de Caracas opens.
* Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas opens.
1975
* 28 October: 1975 Copa América football tournament held.
* Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar headquartered in city.
1977 – Parque Zoológico Caricuao opens.
1978 – National Theatre Festival begins.
1979 – El Diario de Caracas newspaper begins publication.
1982 – Children's Museum of Caracas established.
1983
* Caracas Metro begins operating.
* Teresa Carreño Theatre and Brígido Iriarte Stadium open.
* and Parque Central Complex built.
* August: 1983 Pan American Games held.
1984 – Mercantil Tower and Provincial Tower built.
1987 – Parque Cristal built.
1989
* February: Protests.
* National Library of Venezuela building opens.
1990
* Tower of David construction begins.
* Population: 1,824,892 city; 2,784,042 urban agglomeration.
1993 – Mosque of Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim built.
1995 – Polar Tower II built.
1998 – Centro San Ignacio opens.
1999
* Capital District (Venezuela) established.
* Movilnet Tower, and Centro Sambil built.
2000
* Metropolitan District of Caracas created, with jurisdiction over Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo, Libertador, and Sucre.
* Alfredo Peña becomes mayor.
* Mormon temple dedicated.

21st century

2002 – 11 April: Demonstration.
2004
* Juan Barreto becomes mayor.
* Estrella Roja Football Club formed.
* 17 October: Fire in Parque Central Complex.
2005 – Venezuela International Book Fair begins.
2006
* January: World Social Forum held.
* Libertador Simón Bolívar Terminal opens.
2007
* May: RCTV closure demonstration.
* Squatters occupy Centro Financiero Confinanzas.
2008
* Antonio Ledezma becomes mayor.
* Real Esppor football club formed.
2010 – Metrocable begins operating.
2011 – Population: 2,104,423.
2012 – 20 August: Yare prison riot.
2014 – February: 2014–2018 Venezuelan protests begin.
2015 - Population: 2,082,130.
2017 - July: Strike in protest against President Maduro.
2019 - January: Venezuelan Presidential crisis begins, leading to the 2019 Venezuelan protests.
2026 - January: U.S strikes Caracas and captures President Maduro.