Discover what happened on February 17 in history, including major historical events, notable celebrity birthdays, and fun Days of the Year celebrations.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1801 – The U.S. House of Representatives broke an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Jefferson was elected President and Burr became Vice President.
1817 – In Baltimore, MD, gas-lit streetlights were used for the first time.
1864 – Dmitri Mendeleev sorted elements by weights and properties and developed the first Periodic Table.
1876 – Julius Wolff became the first person to can sardines.
1878 – In San Francisco, CA, the first large city telephone exchange opened. It had only 18 phones.
1897 – The National Congress of Mothers was organized in Washington, DC, by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst. It was the forerunner of the National PTA.
1933 – The magazine “Newsweek” was published for the first time.
1933 – The Blaine Act ended Prohibition in the United States.
1933 – Blondie Boopadoop married Dagwood Bumstead three years after the debut of Chic Young’s popular comic strip “Blondie”.
1934 – The first high school automobile driver’s education course was introduced in State College, PA.
1959 – The first weather satellite, Vanguard 2, was launched to measure cloud-cover distribution.
1964 – In Wesberry vs. Sanders, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts within each state had to be approximately equal in population.
1965 – The Ranger 8 probe launched on its mission to take photos of the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in preparation for the crewed Apollo missions.
1965 – Comedienne Joan Rivers made her first guest appearance on television’s “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” on NBC.
1974 – A disgruntled U.S. Army private, Robert K. Preston, buzzed the White House in a stolen helicopter.
1985 – U.S. Postage stamp prices went from 20 cents to 22 cents for first class mail.
1992 – In Milwaukee, WI, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison. In November of 1994, he was beaten to death in prison.
1996 – NASA’s Discovery Program began as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifted off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid (433 Eros).
1996 – World chess champion Garry Kasparov beat the IBM supercomputer “Deep Blue” in a chess match in Philadelphia, PA.
2002 – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” passed “Star Wars: Episode One” to become the second highest-grossing movie of all time, earning $926 million at the box office. “Titanic”, with ticket sales of $1.8 billion remained the leader.
2004 – The Michigan Senate passed a bill forbidding mothers from breastfeeding their children in the front seat of a car.
2005 – President George W. Bush named John Negroponte as the first National Intelligence Director.
2007 – Britney Spears checked into — then out of — rehab, and had her head shaved at a California salon.
2014 – Jimmy Fallon made his debut as host of television’s “The Tonight Show” on NBC.
BIRTHDAYS:
Christina Pickles – 91 years old (1935) – English-American actress
Shahrnush Parsipur – 80 years old (1946) – Iranian-American author and academic
Becky Ann Baker – 73 years old (1953) – Actress
Lou Ann Barton – 72 years old (1954) – Singer-songwriter
Rene Russo – 72 years old (1954) – Actress
Richard Karn – 70 years old (1956) – Actor and game show host
Rowdy Gaines – 67 years old (1959) – Swimmer and sportscaster
Lou Diamond Phillips – 64 years old (1962) – Actor and director
Larry the Cable Guy – 63 years old (1963) – Comedian and voice actor
Jen-Hsun Huang – 63 years old (1963) – Taiwanese-American businessman, co-founded Nvidia
Michael Jordan – 63 years old (1963) – Basketball player, executive, and businessman
Michael Bay – 61 years old (1965) – Director and producer
Denise Richards – 55 years old (1971) – Model and actress
Billie Joe Armstrong – 54 years old (1972) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and producer
Drew Barry – 53 years old (1973) – Basketball player
Jerry O'Connell – 52 years old (1974) – Actor, director, and producer
Kelly Carlson – 50 years old (1976) – Actress and model
Conrad Ricamora – 47 years old (1979) – Actor
Josh Willingham – 47 years old (1979) – Baseball player
Al Harrington – 46 years old (1980) – Basketball player
Jason Ritter – 46 years old (1980) – Actor
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – 45 years old (1981) – Actor, director, and producer
Paris Hilton – 45 years old (1981) – Model, media personality, actress, singer, DJ, author and businesswoman
Brian Bruney – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Brett Kern – 40 years old (1986) – Football player
Case Keenum – 38 years old (1988) – Football player
Chord Overstreet – 37 years old (1989) – Actor and singer
Phil Pressey – 35 years old (1991) – Basketball player and coach
Jeremy Allen White – 35 years old (1991) – Actor
Meaghan Martin – 34 years old (1992) – Actress and singer
Mason Jobst – 32 years old (1994) – Ice hockey player
Madison Keys – 31 years old (1995) – Tennis player
Sasha Pieterse – 30 years old (1996) – South African-American actress and singer-songwriter
Devin White – 28 years old (1998) – Football player
TODAY IS:
- National Random Acts of Kindness Day: Brighten someone's day with unexpected kindness! Hold the door, pay for a coffee, or simply smile. Small gestures make a big difference!
- National Cafe au Lait Day:
- Fasnacht Day:
- Global Tourism Resilience Day:
- My Way Day: Be a trailblazer, a rebel with a cause, and embrace your unique quirks. Stand out, break the mold, and let your awesomeness shine brightly!
- Who Shall I Be Day:
- Analog to Digital TV Day:
- National Tennis Pro Day: In the world of tennis, a select few possess an unparalleled mastery — their skills and dedication truly remarkable.
- World Human Spirit Day: The profound connection to something greater brings a deep sense of peace and fulfillment. Nurturing the soul can lead to a life of serenity and joy.
- Champion Crab Races Day:
- National Public Science Day: Embracing the curiosity and wonder that fuel exploration, discovery, and a deeper understanding of the world around us.
- Mardi Gras: Let the good times roll with Mardi Gras! This carnival season is a time for revelry, music, and colorful celebrations. So don your beads, masks, and feathers, and join in the fun of this festive occasion!
- Chinese New Year: A joyous annual celebration of new beginnings, family gatherings, and traditional foods, steeped in symbolism and rich history.
- National Cabbage Day: This crunchy, leafy green is a powerhouse of nutrition. Sliced raw in salads or cooked in stews, cabbages add flavor and texture to any dish.
- Kosovo Independence Day:
- Pancake Day: Fluffy, golden discs of happiness that make mornings magical, there's nothing quite like a stack of pancakes to start your day off right.
- Korean New Year: During this joyous occasion, families exchange gifts, eat delicious food, play traditional games, and dress up in colorful hanbok attire.
- Carnival of Brazil: Samba music, vibrant costumes, and non-stop dancing—this annual festival in Rio de Janeiro is the ultimate party experience you won't forget!
- National Nest Box Week: If you want to invite more birds to your yard, consider putting up some cozy little homes for these feathered friends!
- Goa Carnival:
- Carnaval de Barranquilla:
- Real Bread Week: Real bread is a joy to behold! Made with natural ingredients and baked to perfection, each bite is a heavenly experience.
- The Carnival of Binche:
- Make Mine Chocolate:
- National Condom Week: Staying safe and responsible, these essential items help ensure intimate moments are worry-free and protected for all involved.
- Love Teaching Week:
- Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week:
- National Drink Wine with Your Cat Week:
- National Green Week:
- Through with the Chew:
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Staff Education Week:
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week:
- Build a Better Trade Show Image Week:
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
