History of Dakar

1870 : Building of a “lazaret” at Cape Manuel to accommodate newcomers who were in quarantine.
1871 : The year when Dakar became a “self-run commune” (in the same way as St-Louis, Goree and Rufisque ).
1884 : The year of Building of a large military hospital.
1885 : The Dakar - Saint Louis railway is Inaugurated
1889 : In this year, a sewerage system as well as oil-lighting in the streets project is completed.
1902 : Dakar becomes the Seat of the Executive for A.O.F. (i.e. French West Africa).
The Lebou village becomes the “Médina“.
1907 : Building of the Palace of the Governor General of A.O.F. (it is now the presidential palace) .The Dakar - Bamako railway is put into service.
1910 : The covered-market in Kermel square is completed. Street lighting is electrified.
1912 : A railway station is built (it is still the same building nowadays).
1914 : Blaise Diagne who was born in Goree is elected to office as a deputy for Senegal at the French National Assembly in Paris, thus supplanting the half-cast bourgeoisie of Saint Louis).
1918 : The City Hall is built. This is also the year when the Medical College is established.
1924 : Foundation of Pasteur Institute at Dakar is laid.
1925 : Dakar mark as historic day when the First airmail service Toulouse-Dakar is realized on June 1st.
1927 : Goree and Dakar are united
1929 : In the year 1929, the Inauguration of the Cathedral of the “Souvenir Africain“ dedicated to the soldiers, doctors and explorers who died for France in Africa takes place.
1933 : The year when Jean Mermoz flies from Dakar to Natal (Brazil) in 14 hours and minutes.
In the same year, The neo-Sudanese typed ”Sandaga” market is built.
1934 : The year when Blaise Diagne is replaced by Galandou Diouf at the French National Assembly.
1937 : Rufisque is united with Dakar.
1938 : With Théodore Monod at the forefront, The French Institute of Black Africa (IFAN) is founded.
1940 : Although Senegal had not joined the Free French Force yet, Charles de Gaulle failed in his landing attempt on September 23rd despite the support of the British fleet
1942 : A.O.F. joins the Free French Force.
1945 : In November Léopold Sédar Senghor is elected as a deputy for the Constituent Assembly.
1946 : At Lamine Gueye’s suggestion on May 7th the law is voted that grants the natives of the French Overseas Territories French citizenship.
1947 : The French President Vincent Auriol becomes the first French Head of State to visit Black Africa.
1958 : Dakar is chosen as capital city of the new Republic of Senegal. At this time, Senegal was a member of the French community.
1964 : The year when the Great Mosque was built