Discover what happened on February 24 in history, along with notable celebrity birthdays and fun Days of the Year to celebrate.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1803 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled itself to be the final interpreter of all constitutional issues.
1839 – William S. Otis received a patent for the steam shovel.
1857 – The first shipment of perforated postage stamps was received by the U.S. Government.
1863 – A joint resolution of the Michigan House and Senate “unreservedly” approved President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
1866 – In Washington, D.C., an American flag made entirely of American bunting was displayed for the first time.
1868 – Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. He was impeached due to his attempt to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Johnson was later acquitted in the Senate.
1868 – The first parade to have floats took place at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, LA
1900 – New York City Mayor Van Wyck signed a contract to begin construction on New York’s first rapid transit tunnel. The tunnel would link Manhattan and Brooklyn. The ground breaking ceremony was on March 24, 1900.
1903 – In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a parcel of land was leased to the U.S. for a naval base.
1928 – The use of marijuana was outlawed in Detroit, MI. At the time, there were no state or federal restrictions on the books. Some 90 years later, on December 6, 2018, the state of Michigan legalized recreational cannabis.
1938 – The first nylon bristle toothbrush was made, marking the first time that nylon yarn had been used commercially.
1942 – The U.S. Government stopped shipments of all 12-gauge shotguns for sporting use for the wartime effort.
1942 – The Voice of America (VOA) aired for the first time.
1976 – The Eagles’ “Greatest Hits” album became the first album in the U.S. to be certified platinum by the RIAA.
1980 – The USA Olympic hockey team completed their “Miracle on Ice” by defeating Finland, 4-2, to win the gold medal.
1980 – NBC premiered the TV movie “Harper Valley P.T.A.”.
1981 – Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Britain’s Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer.
1983 – The Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 1,100 mark for the first time.
1988 – The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a $200,000 award to Rev. Jerry Falwell that had been won against “Hustler” magazine. The ruling expanded legal protections for parody and satire.
1989 – A United Airlines 747 jet ripped open in flight killing 9 people. The flight was from Honolulu to New Zealand.
1992 – The Postal Service unveiled two versions of its proposed Elvis stamp for fans to vote on. The younger Elvis design won and was issued on January 8, 1993.
1992 – The first “Wayne’s World” movie, starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, opened.
1992 – After a furlough to fight anorexia, Tracy Gold returned to the set of TV’s “Growing Pains”.
1997 – Dick Enberg received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2008 – Cuba’s parliament named Raul Castro president. His brother Fidel had ruled for nearly 50 years.
2011 – The television sitcom “Two and a Half Men” was cancelled for the rest of the season after Charlie Sheen criticized and insulted creator Chuck Lorre in a series of bizarre interviews.
2011 – The final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103).
2014 – Seth Meyers took over for Jimmy Fallon as host of NBC’s “Late Night”.
2022 – Russia invaded Ukraine.
BIRTHDAYS:
Dominic Chianese – 95 years old (1931) – Actor and singer
Phil Knight – 88 years old (1938) – Businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Nike, Inc
Joanie Sommers – 85 years old (1941) – Singer and actress
Celia Kaye – 84 years old (1942) – Actress
Jenny O'Hara – 84 years old (1942) – Actress
Barry Bostwick – 81 years old (1945) – Actor and singer
Rupert Holmes – 79 years old (1947) – English-American singer-songwriter and playwright
Edward James Olmos – 79 years old (1947) – Actor and director
George Thorogood – 76 years old (1950) – Musician
Debra Jo Rupp – 75 years old (1951) – Actress
Tommy Burleson – 74 years old (1952) – Basketball player
Sid Meier – 72 years old (1954) – Canadian-American game designer and programmer, created the Civilization series
Judith Butler – 70 years old (1956) – Philosopher, theorist, and author
Eddie Murray – 70 years old (1956) – Baseball player and coach
Paula Zahn – 70 years old (1956) – Journalist and producer
Sammy Kershaw – 68 years old (1958) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Mark Moses – 68 years old (1958) – Actor
Beth Broderick – 67 years old (1959) – Actress and director
Emilio Rivera – 65 years old (1961) – Actor
Kelly Craft – 64 years old (1962) – Businesswoman and diplomat
Michelle Shocked – 64 years old (1962) – Singer-songwriter
Elizabeth Wilson – 62 years old (1964) – Politician
Paul Gruber – 61 years old (1965) – Football player
Jane Swift – 61 years old (1965) – Businesswoman and politician, Governor of Massachusetts
Billy Zane – 60 years old (1966) – Actor and producer
Jeff Garcia – 56 years old (1970) – Football player and coach
Jonathan Ward – 56 years old (1970) – Actor
Gillian Flynn – 55 years old (1971) – Author, screenwriter, and producer
Zach Johnson – 50 years old (1976) – Golfer
Bronson Arroyo – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player
Floyd Mayweather Jr. – 49 years old (1977) – Boxer
Bob Sanders – 45 years old (1981) – Football player
Nick Blackburn – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Wilson Bethel – 42 years old (1984) – Actor
Corey Graves – 42 years old (1984) – Wrestler and sportscaster
Ashley Walker – 39 years old (1987) – American-Romanian basketball player
Alexander Koch – 38 years old (1988) – Actor
Trace Cyrus – 37 years old (1989) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Kosta Koufos – 37 years old (1989) – Greek-American basketball player
Dwayne Allen – 36 years old (1990) – Football player
Derek Wolfe – 36 years old (1990) – Football player
Tim Erixon – 35 years old (1991) – American-Swedish ice hockey player
Madison Hubbell – 35 years old (1991) – Ice dancer
O'Shea Jackson Jr. – 35 years old (1991) – Actor and rapper
Jessica Pegula – 32 years old (1994) – Tennis player
Earl Sweatshirt – 32 years old (1994) – Rapper
Royce Freeman – 30 years old (1996) – Football player
TODAY IS:
- National Tortilla Chip Day: Crunchy, salty, and perfect for dipping, these triangular delights are the ultimate companion to your favorite salsa or guacamole.
- National Trading Card Day: Collectible pieces of nostalgia, capturing the essence of various interests, be it sports, movies, or the wonders of the natural world.
- World Spay Day:
- Twin Peaks Day:
- World Bartender Day: Creators of delicious concoctions that can make any night out better, these talented mixologists are the ultimate beverage wizards!
- Edward Dickinson Baker Day:
- International I Hate Coriander Day: A strong aversion to that polarizing herb, it can turn a beloved dish into a culinary challenge for discerning taste buds.
- Museums Advocacy Days:
- Make Mine Chocolate:
- Future Farmers of America Week:
- National Eating Disorder Awareness Week:
- Bird Health Awareness Week:
- National Engineers Week: With a mind full of creativity and a tool kit full of gadgets — from bridges to phones — engineers are the ultimate problem solvers!
- National Green Week:
- Ramadan: During this holy month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, focusing on spiritual reflection and community. Ramadan is a time for self-improvement and bringing people together in celebration of faith.
Powered by Days Of The Year
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.
