A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.
What Happened on March 26 in History?
Important events on this day include the announcement of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk, the premiere of the Woodstock documentary film, and the spread of the Melissa computer virus.
MARCH 26 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1804 – Congress ordered the removal of Indians east of the Mississippi to Louisiana.
1885 – Eastman Kodak (Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co.) produced the first commercial motion picture film in Rochester, NY.
1910 – Congress passed an amendment to the 1907 Immigration Act that barred criminals, paupers, anarchists and carriers of disease from settling in the United States.
1937 – Spinach growers in Crystal City, TX, erected a statue of the cartoon character “Popeye”.
1945 – The battle of Iwo Jima ended.
1951 – The U.S. Air Force flag was approved. The flag included the coat of arms, 13 white stars and the Air Force seal on a blue background.
1953 – Dr. Jonas Salk announced a new vaccine that would prevent poliomyelitis.
1958 – The U.S. Army launched America’s third successful satellite, Explorer III.
1969 – The TV movie “Marcus Welby” was seen on ABC. It was later turned into a weekly television series.
1970 – The film “Woodstock” premiered. It chronicled the festival that happened eight months earlier.
1971 – “Cannon” premiered on CBS as a TV movie. It was turned into a weekly series later in the year.
1972 – The Los Angeles Lakers broke a National Basketball Association (NBA) record by winning 69 of their 82 games.
1973 – The daytime TV soap opera “The Young and the Restless” debuted on CBS.
1982 – Ground was broken for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
1983 – The U.S. performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
1989 – The TV show “Quantum Leap”, starring Scott Bakula, debuted.
1992 – In Indianapolis, IN, heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was found guilty for the rape of Desiree Washington. He was sentenced to six years in prison. He was denied bail and ordered to begin his jail term immediately.
1997 – The 39 bodies of Heaven’s Gate members are found in a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. The group had died by suicide thinking that they would be picked up by a spaceship following behind the Hale-Bopp comet.
1998 – The Federal government endorses new HIV test that yields instant results.
1998 – Unisys Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. paid a $3.15 million fine for selling spare parts at inflated prices to the Federal government.
1999 – The “Melissa worm” infected Microsoft word processing and e-mail systems around the world.
1999 – In Michigan, Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder for giving a terminally ill man a lethal injection and putting it all on videotape on September 17, 1998 for the television news magazine “60 Minutes”.
2000 – The Seattle Kingdome was imploded to make room for a new football arena.
2007 – A design for the “Forever Stamp” was unveiled by the U.S. Postal Service.
2007 – A medical examiner’s report officially stated that Anna Nicole Smith died as the result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Drugs found in her system included methadone, Xanax, human growth hormone and chloral hydrate (a sleep medication).
2010 – The movie “How to Train Your Dragon” opened in theaters.
2012 – Canadian filmmaker James Cameron became the first person to visit Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth, in over 50 years.
2020 – American cases of COVID-19 exceed all other countries on this date, with 81,578 cases and 1,180 deaths.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MARCH 26:
Edward Sorel – 97 years old (1929) – Illustrator and caricaturist
Leroy Griffith – 94 years old (1932) – Businessman
Wayne Embry – 89 years old (1937) – Basketball player and manager
Barbara Jones – 89 years old (1937) – Sprinter
Nancy Pelosi – 86 years old (1940) – Lawyer and politician, 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Erica Jong – 84 years old (1942) – Novelist and poet
Bob Woodward – 83 years old (1943) – Journalist and author
Diana Ross – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
Subhash Kak – 79 years old (1947) – Indian-American professor and author
Steven Tyler – 78 years old (1948) – Singer-songwriter and actor
Vicki Lawrence – 77 years old (1949) – Actress, comedian, talk show host, and singer
Fran Sheehan – 77 years old (1949) – Bass player
Ernest Lee Thomas – 77 years old (1949) – Actor
Martin Short – 76 years old (1950) – Canadian-American actor, screenwriter, and producer
Alan Silvestri – 76 years old (1950) – Composer and conductor
Carl Wieman – 75 years old (1951) – Physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Lincoln Chafee – 73 years old (1953) – Academic and politician, 74th Governor of Rhode Island
Elaine Chao – 73 years old (1953) – Taiwanese-American banker and politician, 24th United States Secretary of Labor
Curtis Sliwa – 72 years old (1954) – Talk show host and activist, founded Guardian Angels
Charly McClain – 70 years old (1956) – Country music singer
Leeza Gibbons – 69 years old (1957) – Talk show host and television personality
Marcus Allen – 66 years old (1960) – Football player and sportscaster
Jennifer Grey – 66 years old (1960) – Actress and dancer
Kevin Seitzer – 64 years old (1962) – Baseball player and coach
John Stockton – 64 years old (1962) – Basketball player and coach
Eric Allan Kramer – 64 years old (1962) – American-Canadian actor
Ulf Samuelsson – 62 years old (1964) – Swedish-American ice hockey player and coach
Trey Azagthoth – 61 years old (1965) – Guitarist, songwriter, and producer
Michael Imperioli – 60 years old (1966) – Actor and screenwriter
Jason Chaffetz – 59 years old (1967) – Politician
Kenny Chesney – 58 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
James Iha – 58 years old (1968) – Guitarist and songwriter
Leslie Mann – 54 years old (1972) – Actress
Jason Maxwell – 54 years old (1972) – Baseball player
Larry Page – 53 years old (1973) – Computer scientist and businessman, co-founder of Google
T. R. Knight – 53 years old (1973) – Actor
Amy Smart – 50 years old (1976) – Actress and former model
Bianca Kajlich – 49 years old (1977) – Actress
Margaret Brennan – 46 years old (1980) – Journalist
Josh Wilson – 45 years old (1981) – Baseball player
Brendan Ryan – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Nate Kaeding – 44 years old (1982) – Football player
Floriana Lima – 43 years old (1983) – Actress
Mike Mondo – 43 years old (1983) – Wrestler
Jimmy Howard – 42 years old (1984) – Ice hockey player
Sara Jean Underwood – 42 years old (1984) – Model, television host, and actress
Matt Grevers – 41 years old (1985) – Swimmer
Jonathan Groff – 41 years old (1985) – Actor and singer
Jermichael Finley – 39 years old (1987) – Football player
Von Miller – 37 years old (1989) – Football player
Matt Davidson – 35 years old (1991) – Baseball player
Ramy Youssef – 35 years old (1991) – Actor and comedian
Ryan Arcidiacono – 32 years old (1994) – Basketball player
Paige VanZant – 32 years old (1994) – Mixed martial artist and model
Jameson Williams – 25 years old (2001) – Football player
Bhad Bhabie – 23 years old (2003) – Rapper and social media personality
Ella Anderson – 21 years old (2005) – Actress
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MARCH 26:
- Purple Day: Raising awareness about a condition that affects millions worldwide is vital in promoting understanding, education, and compassion towards those living with epilepsy.
- Major League Baseball Opening Day: Major League Baseball Opening Day. It’s when you hear that first crack of the bat and roar of the fans. It’s the first sniff of buttery popcorn in the stadium. Many baseball fans will even admit to playing hooky from work on this day. Why? Too take themselves out to the...
- National Science Appreciation Day: This noble pursuit of knowledge unveils the wonders of creation, empowering humanity with innovation and understanding.
- Air Max Day: Air Max Day is a yearly celebration that brings together sneaker enthusiasts from around the world to honor one of Nike’s most iconic footwear lines. What started as a nod to a single groundbreaking running shoe has grown into a full-blown appreciation day for design, comfort, and the kind of...
- National Spinach Day: This leafy green is packed with nutrients to boost your health and energy. Add it to your meals for a tasty and nutritious boost!
- Good Hair Day: Healthy hair is happy hair! Give your locks the love they deserve and see the difference it makes in your confidence and style.
- Live Long and Prosper Day: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Spock. Spock who? Spock-tacular to meet a fellow Star Trek fan! Starting with a Spock joke seems an appropriate kick-off to National Live Long And Prosper Day! Spend the day taking a virtual galactic journey honoring Leonard Nimoy - forever Spock to legions of loyal Trekkies. Add...
- Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: Crafting special occasions, adding unique twists to life's routine, and celebrating moments that matter most — that's the art of creating holidays.
- National Nougat Day: This chewy, sweet treat is a perfect balance of crunchy and smooth, and makes a delicious addition to your favorite desserts!
- Solitude Day: There’s something special about pressing pause and stepping into stillness. Solitude Day shines a gentle light on the beauty of being alone. It’s not about escaping the world forever—it’s about finding calm in a busy life. With no distractions, your thoughts can stretch out, breathe, and roam freely. In those...
- March Madness: Get your game face on for March Madness! This high-energy tournament is a slam dunk of excitement, passion, and heart-pumping action. So grab your team colors, gear up for the showdown, and let the madness begin!
- National Tsunami Awareness Week: National Tsunami Awareness Week sparks a wave of readiness during this time each year. This week is set aside to spread knowledge about the serious threat of tsunamis, especially in regions with high risk! How to Observe National Tsunami Awareness Week Host a Tsunami Trivia Night Gather friends or neighbors for a...
- 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...
- Tick Bite Prevention Week: Tick Bite Prevention Week, celebrated annually, is a vital period dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of tick bites and how to prevent them! How to Celebrate Tick Bite Prevention Week Celebrating Tick Bite Prevention Week can be both educational and fun. Here are several suggestions to get involved...
- Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination: The Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination brings communities together in support of a world free from racial hatred and inequality. This UN-led initiative highlights the voices and stories of those affected by racism worldwide, shining a light on the struggles and resilience of diverse...
- National Cleaning Week: Sprucing up the living space can be quite the chore, but the end result is a refreshed and orderly home to be proud of.
- National Physicians Week : Healing hands, medical marvels—physicians navigate the intricate realms of health, weaving stories of resilience and care.
- UNESCO-ITI World Theater Week: UNESCO-ITI World Theater Week celebrates the magic of live performance across cultures. It highlights voices that rise from every stage. Artists, storytellers, and directors come together to share something real. These stories spark laughter, stir emotion, and open new ways of seeing the world. From packed auditoriums to outdoor street corners...
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