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May 11 in History: Polaroid Camera Debuts, Deep Blue Defeats Kasparov, and the Dust Bowl Begins

Scott Winters May 11, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on May 11 in history, along with notable events that shaped technology, sports, and the American landscape.

What Happened on May 11 in History?

Important events on this day include the debut of the Polaroid camera, IBM’s Deep Blue defeating chess champion Garry Kasparov, and one of the major dust storms of the Dust Bowl era.

MAY 11 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1858 – Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.

1910 – Glacier National Park in Montana was established.

1924 – Mercedes-Benz was formed when Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merged two companies.

1927 – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded.

1934 – A severe two-day dust storm stripped the topsoil from the Great Plains of the U.S. and created a “Dust Bowl.” The storm was one of many.

1947 – The creation of the tubeless tire was announced by the B.F. Goodrich Company.

1948 – The first Polaroid camera was sold in New York, NY for $89.99.

1960 – The first contraceptive pill was made available.

1972 – The San Francisco Giants announced the trade of Willie Mays to the New York Mets.

1976 – ABC broadcast the final episode of TV’s “Marcus Welby MD”.

1984 – The Detroit Tigers set a major league record by winning 26 of their first 30 games

1985 – More than 50 people died when a flash fire swept a soccer stadium in Bradford, England.

1987 – In Baltimore, MD, the first heart-lung transplant took place. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bruce Reitz of the Stanford University School of Medicine.

1990 – Ritchie Valens was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame posthumously.

1996 – On a single day, eight people died during summit attempts on Mount Everest.

1996 – An Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 caught fire (started by improperly handled chemical oxygen generators in the cargo hold) shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashed into the Florida Everglades. All 110 people on board were killed.

1997 – Garry Kasparov, world chess champion, lost his first ever multi-game match. He lost to IBM’s chess computer Deep Blue. It was the first time a computer had beaten a world-champion player.

1998 – A French mint produced the first coins of Europe’s single currency. The coin is known as the euro.

2001 – U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced his decision to approve a 30-day delay of the execution of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. McVeigh had been scheduled to be executed on May 16, 2001. The delay was because the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had failed to disclose thousands of documents to McVeigh’s defense team.

2005 – Macaulay Culkin took the stand in Michael Jackson’s defense and called claims that Jackson molested him “absolutely ridiculous.”

2005 – In Washington, DC, the White House and the Capitol were evacuated after a small plane entered restricted airspace. Two fighter jets escorted the Cessna, which was carrying a pilot and his student, to a nearby airport. Authorities did not press charges.

2015 – Fox announced that TV’s “American Idol” would conclude at the end of its fifteenth season.

2020 – The American Hockey League cancelled the remainder of their 2019-2020 hockey season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to COVID-19. The Grand Rapids Griffins playing season ended.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 11:

Louis Farrakhan – 93 years old (1933) – Religious leader

James L. Dolan – 71 years old (1955) – Businessman

Tim Blake Nelson – 62 years old (1964) – Actor

Bobby Witt – 62 years old (1964) – Baseball player

Harold Ford Jr. – 56 years old (1970) – Lawyer and politician

JP Karliak – 45 years old (1981) – Actor, voice actor and comedian

Matt Leinart – 43 years old (1983) – Football player

Jeremy Maclin – 38 years old (1988) – Football player

Cam Newton – 37 years old (1989) – Football player

Maurice Harkless – 33 years old (1993) – American-Puerto Rican basketball player

Sachia Vickery – 31 years old (1995) – Tennis player

Coi Leray – 29 years old (1997) – Rapper and singer

Lana Condor – 29 years old (1997) – Actress

Sabrina Carpenter – 27 years old (1999) – Singer and actress

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 11:

National Eat What You Want Day: Drop your rules and restrictions around eating and just enjoy life a little by eating what you want on this health and body image conscious day.
National Technology Day: From smartphones to social media, and with new innovations emerging every day, it's exciting to see how tech will shape our future.
National Twilight Zone Day: Enter another dimension…a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. Binge some of Rod Serling’s mind-bending episodes of The Twilight Zone.
World Ego Awareness Day: Spend some time in self-reflection, and understand the role of the ego in your own life, in order to make sure it doesn’t come into conflict with others.
Noise Action Week: Noise Action Week is an exciting event dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of noise pollution on our daily lives. This week-long initiative encourages everyone to think about the noise they create and how it affects others. It's a time for communities to come together, learn about noise reduction...
Hostess CupCake Day: Hostess CupCake Day is a delightful celebration dedicated to the iconic Hostess CupCake, a beloved American snack. This day brings joy to many as it honors the famous chocolate cupcake with its signature white squiggle and creamy filling -- it's all about indulging in these sweet snacks and sharing the...
National Foam Rolling Day: Muscles have a way of keeping score. A long day at a desk, an enthusiastic workout, a weekend of yardwork, or even a few hours of travel can leave the body feeling wound up and a little creaky. National Foam Rolling Day shines a spotlight on a simple tool that...
National Women’s Checkup Day: Many women seem to have a tendency to make sure that the people around them are cared for and looked after, but sometimes they forget to take care of themselves. National Women’s Checkup Day brings attention to this concern, recognizing that all women need to have regular, annual check-ups from their...
American Craft Beer Week: Exploring diverse flavors and styles, American craft beer showcases innovation and craftsmanship, delighting enthusiasts worldwide.
Foster Care Fortnight: Foster Care Fortnight, an annual event in the UK, typically happens in the first two weeks of May. This initiative is driven by The Fostering Network, a leading charity that promotes foster care awareness and recruitment. The event raises awareness about the growing need for foster carers and their vital...
National Nurse’s Week: Give a big thank-you to the hard-working, often under-paid medical professionals who keep hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes and hospice care running.
Bike to Work Week: Bike to Work Week is a special time celebrated each year across the United States. This event encourages people to ride their bikes to work or anywhere else they need to go as part of a larger movement to promote cycling and its benefits. How to Celebrate Bike to Work Week Embracing...
Learning at Work Week: Learning at Work Week is a special time dedicated to boosting learning culture within the workplace. Celebrated annually, this initiative encourages all types of organizations to engage in activities that foster learning among their teams. The goal is to make learning an integral part of working life, benefiting individual growth and...
Christian Aid Week: Christian Aid Week is an important time that provides urgent humanitarian relief to the less fortunate and urges long-term programs to help. It calls out the plight of the suffering, giving immediate aid. But it does more; it stands up for the rights of - and demands justice for -...
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
National Salvation Army Week: Supporting those in need, providing hope, and creating positive change—efforts that embody the essence of humanitarian assistance.
M.E. Awareness Week: M.E. Awareness Week, celebrated annually, highlights the struggles of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). The week encourages empathy for those affected and serves as a time for people to learn more about this condition. The campaign is organized by various charities, patient groups, and healthcare professionals working together to increase...
National Public Gardens Week: National Public Gardens Week shines a spotlight on the incredible beauty and significance of public gardens. Held each year in early May, it's a week-long celebration designed to highlight the vital role these gardens play in our communities. From fragrant flower displays to serene landscapes, they offer more than just...
National Hospital Week: Whether performing a small elective procedure or treating a life-threatening illness, hospitals are critical places that make a huge difference in the health of individuals, families and communities across the nation. National Hospital Week is here to celebrate and show appreciation for all of the different people who are integral...
National Hoarding Awareness Week: Hoarding can feel suffocating. It clutters not just rooms but also minds. National Hoarding Awareness Week brings this often-overlooked struggle to the forefront. Many people live with piles of objects that grow until they block doors and windows. This isn’t about mess or laziness—it’s a serious condition. This week, communities...
National Stuttering Awareness Week: National Stuttering Awareness Week focuses on understanding stuttering and supporting those who live with it. Stuttering is a speech condition that affects the flow of speaking, and it touches millions of people worldwide. This week encourages open conversations and helps break the silence around a challenge many face every day. It...
I Love My State Parks Week: The United States defines up to 10,000 different areas as state parks. State parks protect more than 14 million acres of landscape, ranging from coastal beaches to forests, sandy deserts to swampland. In addition, state parks provide local residents with opportunities for recreation, access to clean and safe green spaces...