March 2

Scott Winters March 2, 2026 0 Comments

Discover what happened on March 2 in history, along with notable celebrity birthdays and fun Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1799 – Detroit became an official port of entry for the United States.

1807 – Congress passed an act to “prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States… from any foreign kingdom, place, or country.”

1836 – The Michigan town of Bronson changed its name to Kalamazoo.

1866 – Excelsior Needle Company began making sewing machine needles.

1877 – Just two days before the inauguration, Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 Presidential election by the U.S. Congress. Samuel J. Tilden, however, had won the popular vote on November 7, 1876.

1897 – President Grover Cleveland vetoed legislation that would have required a literacy test for immigrants entering the country.

1899 – Mount Rainier National Park, in Washington, was established by Congress.

1899 – President William McKinley signed a measure that created the rank of Admiral for the U.S. Navy. The first admiral was George Dewey.

1908 – In Paris, Gabriel Lippmann introduced three-dimensional color photography at the Academy of Sciences.

1917 – Citizens of Puerto Rico were granted U.S. citizenship with the enactment of the Jones Act.

1923 – Time magazine debuted.

1925 – State and federal highway officials developed a nationwide route-numbering system and adopted the familiar U.S. shield-shaped, numbered marker.

1929 – The U.S. Court of Customs & Patent Appeals was created by Congress.

1933 – The motion picture “King Kong” had its world premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY.

1937 – The Steel Workers Organizing Committee signed a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the U.S. steel industry.

1939 – The Massachusetts legislature voted to ratify the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. These first ten amendments had gone into effect 147 years before.

1949 – The first automatic street light was installed in New Milford, CT.

1949 – Captain James Gallagher landed his B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II in Fort Worth, TX after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight. The trip took 94 hours and 1 minute.

1962 – Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks 169-147. Chamberlain broke several NBA records in the game.

1965 – The movie “The Sound of Music”, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, premiered in theaters.

1969 – In Toulouse, France, the supersonic transport Concorde made its first test flight.

1972 – Pioneer 10 was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL, on a mission to explore Jupiter and the outer planets.

1974 – The speed limited in Michigan was lowered to 55 miles per hour to comply with federal legislation aimed at reducing energy consumption.

1974 – U.S. postage stamps jumped from 8 to 10 cents for first-class mail.

1976 – Disney World, in Orlando, FL, had its 50 millionth visitor.

1976 – March 2-4, one of the worst ever ice storms in Michigan. Some places had 3” of ice.

1983 – Compact Discs and players were released for the first time in the U.S. and other markets. (They had previously just been available only in Japan.) Sixteen albums were released on CD for the first time. The first commercially released CD was Billy Joel’s “52nd Street”.

1984 – The first McDonald’s franchise was closed. A new location was opened across the street from the old location in Des Plaines, IL.

1985 – The U.S. government approved a screening test for AIDS that detected antibodies to the virus that allowed possibly contaminated blood to be kept out of the blood supply.

1987 – The U.S. government reported that the median price for a new home had gone over $100,000 for the first time.

1995 – Yahoo! was incorporated.

1998 – Images from the American spacecraft Galileo indicated that the Jupiter moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice and a source of interior heat.

2002 – A strong low pressure center moved across the Ohio Valley. It brought a lot of snow to lower Michigan. Grand Rapids had 13.9″ of snow and Muskegon had 10.5″. Both of those totals set records for the snowiest March day on record.

2004 – NASA announced that the Mars rover Opportunity had discovered evidence that water had existed on Mars in the past.

2005 – Kobe Bryant settled a civil suit filed by the woman who accused him of raping her in 2003.

2005 – The iTunes Music Store reached 300 million songs sold.

2011 – Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s iPad 2.

2012 – A tornado outbreak occurred over a large section of the Southern United States and into the Ohio Valley region, resulting in 40 tornado-related fatalities

2016 – United States astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko returned to earth after 340 days, setting an International Space Station record.

2017 – The elements Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson were officially added to the periodic table.

BIRTHDAYS:

John Cullum – 96 years old (1930) – Actor and singer

Gene Stallings – 91 years old (1935) – Football player and coach

David Satcher – 85 years old (1941) – Admiral and physician, 16th Surgeon General of the United States

John Irving – 84 years old (1942) – Novelist and screenwriter

Robert Williams – 83 years old (1943) – Painter and cartoonist

Larry Carlton – 78 years old (1948) – Guitarist and songwriter

Mark Evanier – 74 years old (1952) – Author and screenwriter

Laraine Newman – 74 years old (1952) – Actress and comedian

Russ Feingold – 73 years old (1953) – Lawyer and politician

Dale Bozzio – 71 years old (1955) – Pop-rock singer-songwriter

Jay Osmond – 71 years old (1955) – Singer, drummer, actor, and TV/film producer

Ken Salazar – 71 years old (1955) – Lawyer and politician, 50th United States Secretary of the Interior

John Cowsill – 70 years old (1956) – Musician, songwriter, and producer

Mark Dean – 69 years old (1957) – Inventor and computer engineer

Kevin Curren – 68 years old (1958) – South African-American tennis player

Larry Stewart – 67 years old (1959) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Jon Bon Jovi – 64 years old (1962) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor

Alvin Youngblood Hart – 63 years old (1963) – Singer and guitarist

Laird Hamilton – 62 years old (1964) – Surfer and actor

Ron Gant – 61 years old (1965) – Baseball player and journalist

Ann Leckie – 60 years old (1966) – Author

Method Man – 55 years old (1971) – Rapper, record producer and actor

Dominique Canty – 49 years old (1977) – Basketball player and coach

Heather McComb – 49 years old (1977) – Actress

Bryce Dallas Howard – 45 years old (1981) – Actress

Ben Roethlisberger – 44 years old (1982) – Football player

Corey Webster – 44 years old (1982) – Football player

Deuce – 43 years old (1983) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Glen Perkins – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Ryan Shannon – 43 years old (1983) – Ice hockey player

Reggie Bush – 41 years old (1985) – Football player

Robert Iler – 41 years old (1985) – Actor

Jason Smith – 40 years old (1986) – Basketball player

Laura Kaeppeler – 38 years old (1988) – Beauty queen, Miss America 2012

Dexter Pittman – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player

Shane Vereen – 37 years old (1989) – Football player

Malcolm Butler – 36 years old (1990) – Football player

Luke Combs – 36 years old (1990) – Singer-songwriter

Nick Franklin – 35 years old (1991) – Baseball player

Charlie Coyle – 34 years old (1992) – Ice hockey player

Becky G – 29 years old (1997) – Singer and actress

Arike Ogunbowale – 29 years old (1997) – Basketball player

Tua Tagovailoa – 28 years old (1998) – Football player

Isiah Pacheco – 27 years old (1999) – Football player

TODAY IS:

National Egg McMuffin Day: Mornings are better with a certain golden arches menu item — the perfect breakfast sandwich that's crispy, juicy and easy to make at home.
Toddle Waddle: The Toddle Waddle could be the cutest fundraising walking event ever. This yearly walking is a spectacle unlike any other. Why? Because it is aimed at parents and children under five. Watching the Toddle Waddle, you’ll undoubtedly see some children confidently strolling along. However, you’ll also witness cute younger ones...
Casimir Pulaski Day: Casimir Pulaski Day, celebrated in Illinois, honors the bravery and contributions of Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born hero of the American Revolution. Known as the "Father of the American Cavalry," Pulaski played a crucial role in organizing and leading cavalry units against British forces. This day is significant in regions with...
Esther Fast: Esther Fast is a special day in the Jewish faith. It remembers when Queen Esther called on her people to fast and pray before she risked her life to speak to the king. They didn’t turn to weapons or arguments. They turned to God. Through fasting, they opened their hearts...
Dr. Seuss Day: Celebrate a beloved author's whimsical tales, dive into colorful worlds of rhyme and imagination, and embrace the joy of reading.
World Tennis Day: Engaging in dynamic rallies, the court echoes with swift movements, strategic plays, and the exhilarating pursuit of victory.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day: Feeling misunderstood is a big part of being a teenager. It's that mix of growing independence and constant pressure that can stir up confusion, fear, or isolation. World Teen Mental Wellness Day shines a light on this emotional maze. It opens the door for teens to talk about what’s really...
International Rescue Cat Day: Bringing home a furry friend in need — it's all about giving a second chance and finding a loyal companion for life.
Read Across America Day: Read Across America Day bursts with enthusiasm as it brings the joys of reading to the forefront of communities nationwide. This special day encourages everyone, young and old, to dive into books and discover the diverse tapestry of stories that mirror and reshape our world. How to Celebrate Read Across America...
Fun Facts About Names Day: Ever wondered about the tales behind monikers? Stories as diverse as the names themselves, revealing family legacies, cultural influences, and more.
National Old Stuff Day: Rediscover treasures hiding in plain sight! Dust off those forgotten knick-knacks and enjoy the nostalgia and stories they hold.
Texas Independence Day: Every year on March 2nd, Texans celebrate Texas Independence Day. This day marks a significant event in 1836 when Texas declared itself independent from Mexico. It's a day of pride and reflection on the state's unique history. The reason behind this celebration is the bravery and struggle of early Texans. They...
National Banana Cream Pie Day: Think of a dessert so creamy, with a golden crust that crumbles in your mouth, making each bite a sweet delight.
James Ronald Webster Day: James Ronald Webster Day might be the most significant observance on the calendar in the Caribbean nation of Anguilla. The island nation celebrates this day annually to honor the legacy of James Ronald Webster Day. He’s the man known throughout the world as the Father of Anguilla. This day pays...
Teen Tech Week: Libraries evolve with technology, offering digital tools and resources for research, learning, and exploration beyond books.
Peace Corps Week: Every year, hundreds of volunteers embark on a journey to serve in communities around the world, bringing help and hope to those in need.
Purim: Purim bursts with energy. It's a Jewish holiday filled with costumes, laughter, and treats. Streets come alive with parades, music, and dancing. Children dress up as heroes, queens, or whatever sparks their imagination. Families gather to share sweets and stories. The atmosphere is electric, blending joy with tradition. It's a time...
Termite Awareness Week: Termite Awareness Week focuses on the importance of protecting homes from termite damage, which often goes unnoticed until it’s extensive. This event urges homeowners to understand the risk termites pose, particularly in warmer months but also throughout the year. Throughout the week, homeowners also learn practical ways to prevent termites. Recommendations...
Make Mine Chocolate: "Make Mine Chocolate" is a lively campaign urging people to think twice before giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. The campaign encourages people to opt for chocolate bunnies instead. This approach helps spread the message of responsible pet ownership while offering a sweet alternative that won't end up in shelters...
National Professional Pet Sitters Week: Looking for someone to pamper your furry friends while you're away? Professional pet sitters have got you covered!
Women in Aviation Week: Women in Aviation Week celebrates the achievements of women in the aviation industry. This event highlights the vital role women play in aviation, both historically and in modern times. By showcasing the accomplishments of female pilots, engineers, and other aviation professionals, it aims to inspire future generations of girls to...
Read an E-Book Week: With an eBook, your entire library fits in your pocket! Plus, they're eco-friendly, cost-effective, and perfect for on-the-go reading.
Women in Construction Week: Women in Construction Week is a holiday dedicated to changing the stereotypes that women face when it comes to careers by giving them new opportunities to look at; the construction industry has many places where women can advance and built a career for themselves. How to Celebrate Women in Construction...
British Pie Week: A culinary tradition cherished across the British Isles, these savory delights encase rich fillings, embodying a heritage of comfort and satisfaction.
National Consumer Protection Week: In a world of endless choices, consumer protection serves to safeguard and empower, ensuring fairness and accountability for all.
Dental Assistant Recognition Week: Brightening smiles and helping patients achieve healthy teeth, dental assistants make dental visits fun, comfortable, and stress-free!
School Breakfast Week: Starting the day with a healthy breakfast boosts a child's brainpower, improves mood, and helps maintain a healthy weight.
National Invest in Veterans Week: Extending a helping hand to those who've served, ensuring a smooth transition to civilian life with care and respect.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Week: Chocolate Chip Cookie Week is a week-long occasion—and it is just as sweet as its name hints. It’s all about celebrating the beloved chocolate chip cookies. This delectable cookie is loved by bakers everywhere. This American cookie classic is a snack time fave in the United States. But it’s even...
Newspaper in Education Week: Newspaper in Education Week is a special event that highlights the importance of newspapers as educational tools. This week, schools and teachers will use newspapers to teach various subjects. Newspapers help make lessons more engaging and relevant and get kids engaged in a variety of ways! How to Celebrate Newspaper in...
Will Eisner Week: The godfather of graphic novels, Will Eisner revolutionized the comics industry with his iconic characters and stunning artwork.
National Ghostwriters Week: National Ghostwriters Week is an exciting time to spotlight the talented individuals who write in the shadows. This week celebrates the often overlooked yet crucial role ghostwriters play in creating many of the books, speeches, articles, and songs we enjoy! How to Celebrate National Ghostwriters Week Host a Ghostwriter Appreciation...
Hearing Awareness Week: Hearing Awareness Week is a lively event designed to draw attention to the importance of hearing health. This special week encourages everyone to understand the challenges faced by those with hearing loss and promotes actions to support them. It aims to bring communities together, fostering a sense of inclusion and...
National Aplastic Anemia & MDS Awareness Week: National Aplastic Anemia & MDS Awareness Week is a crucial event that raises awareness about aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). These conditions involve the bone marrow failing to produce enough blood cells, leading to serious health issues. Among the most common conditions are frequent infections, easy bruising, and fatigue...
Celebrate Your Name Week: Celebrate Your Name Week is an exciting opportunity for people to embrace and explore the stories behind their names. This event highlights the significance of names, allowing everyone to celebrate what makes their name unique. This celebration also encourages people to take pride in their names, no matter how common...
Cheerleading Week: With infectious energy and unbeatable spirit, they fill the stands with enthusiasm and encourage their teams to victory.
Words Matter Week: Clear expression connects people, conveys ideas, and shapes understanding, making writing and communication indispensable skills for life.
National School Social Work Week: With compassion and expertise, school social workers provide invaluable support in navigating academic, personal, and social challenges.
Telecommuter Appreciation Week: From saving time and money, to being more productive, with remote work, more and more are enjoying the flexibility of working from home.
National Green Week: National Green Week is an exciting initiative that brings attention to the importance of environmental sustainability. Schools and organizations across the country use this week to engage students in activities that promote greener living. The event aims to inspire young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits that can make a lasting...
Write a Letter Appreciation Week: With technology so handy, the joy of sending and receiving hand-written letters grows increasingly rare. Make a point to write a beautiful cursive letter.
Universal Human Beings Week: With empathy and compassion, our collective power to create, innovate, and inspire is what makes us unique.
National Procrastination Week: Procrastination is something everyone does at some point in their lives. Whether it be that important work deadline, attempting to get up early in the morning for the first day of workout, or avoiding speaking with someone super important until the last minute, it is something that everyone can relate...
Return Borrowed Books Week: Few things are as satisfying as returning a stack of library books you've read cover to cover, ready to exchange for new adventures.
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.