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May 13 in History: Michigan State Opens, Velcro Is Trademarked, and “Frasier” Ends

Scott Winters May 13, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on May 13 in history, along with notable events that shaped communication, transportation, and entertainment.

What Happened on May 13 in History?

Important events on this day include the opening of Michigan State University, the registration of the Velcro trademark, and the final episode of Frasier airing on NBC.

MAY 13 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1607 – An expedition led by Captain Christopher Newport arrived at Jamestown, VA. The passengers went ashore the next day, and this site became the first permanent English colony in America.

1821 – The first practical printing press was patented in the U.S. by Samuel Rust.

1857 – Michigan Agricultural College opened in Lansing, MI, with 75 students. It is now known as Michigan State University.

1873 – Ludwig M. Wolf patented the sewing machine lamp holder.

1880 – Thomas Edison tested his experimental electric railway in Menlo Park, NJ.

1897 – Guglielmo Marconi sent the world’s first wireless communication over open sea.

1911 – The New York Giants set a major league baseball record. Ten runners crossed home plate before the first out of the game against St. Louis.

1918 – The first airmail postage stamps were issued with airplanes on them. The denominations were 6, 16, and 24 cents.

1939 – The first commercial FM radio station in the U.S. was launched in Bloomfield, CT. The station later became WDRC-FM.

1949 – The first gas turbine to pump natural gas was installed in Wilmar, AR.

1950 – Diner’s Club issued the first credit cards.

1954 – President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Act.

1958 – The trademark “Velcro” was registered.

1958 – Ben Carlin became the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle. He traveled over 11,000 miles by sea and 39,000 miles by land during a ten-year journey.

1967 – Mickey Mantle hit his 500th homerun.

1970 – “Let It Be”, a British documentary film starring the Beatles, premiered.

1979 – Max Robinson joined ABC’s “World News Tonight” and became the first black anchorman on a national network.

1980 – A deadly F3 tornado ripped through the downtown Kalamazoo business district. President Jimmy Carter declared it a Federal disaster area.

1981 – Pope John Paul II was shot in St. Peter’s Square.

1982 – The Chicago Cubs became the first major league baseball team to win 8,000 games.

1985 – Tony Perez became the oldest major league baseball player to hit a grand slam home run at the age of 42 and 11 months.

1994 – Johnny Carson made his last television appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman”.

2002 – Dionne Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport after baggage screeners found 11 marijuana cigarettes inside her lipstick container. She was later cleared of the charges.

2003 – The U.S. government unveiled a newly designed version of the $20 bill. It was the first to be colorized in an effort to stop counterfeiters.

2004 – NBC aired the final episode of TV’s “Frasier”. It was on the air for 11 seasons.

2008 – A 42 cent postage stamp honoring Frank Sinatra went on sale on the 10th anniversary of his death.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 13:

Zohra Lampert – 89 years old (1937) – Actress

Harvey Keitel – 87 years old (1939) – Actor

Jody Conradt – 85 years old (1941) – Basketball player and coach

Armistead Maupin – 82 years old (1944) – Author, screenwriter, and actor

Lou Marini – 81 years old (1945) – Saxophonist and composer

Marv Wolfman – 80 years old (1946) – Author

Zoë Wanamaker – 77 years old (1949) – American-British actress

Bobby Valentine – 76 years old (1950) – Baseball player and manager

Stevie Wonder – 76 years old (1950) – Singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer

John Kasich – 74 years old (1952) – Politician, 69th Governor of Ohio

Londa Schiebinger – 74 years old (1952) – Academic and author

Siobhan Fallon Hogan – 65 years old (1961) – Actress

Dennis Rodman – 65 years old (1961) – Basketball player, wrestler, and actor

Stephen Colbert – 62 years old (1964) – Comedian and talk show host

Darius Rucker – 60 years old (1966) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Buckethead – 57 years old (1969) – Guitarist and songwriter

Trajan Langdon – 50 years old (1976) – Basketball player and executive

Tom Cotton – 49 years old (1977) – Politician

Pusha T – 49 years old (1977) – Rapper

Mike Bibby – 48 years old (1978) – Basketball player and coach

Barry Zito – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player

Oguchi Onyewu – 44 years old (1982) – Footballer

Dawn Harper – 42 years old (1984) – Hurdler

Lena Dunham – 40 years old (1986) – Actress, director, and screenwriter

Candice King – 39 years old (1987) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Mychal Givens – 36 years old (1990) – Baseball player

Tyrann Mathieu – 34 years old (1992) – Football player

Abby Dahlkemper – 33 years old (1993) – Footballer

Debby Ryan – 33 years old (1993) – Actress and singer

Morgan Wallen – 33 years old (1993) – Singer-songwriter

Nico Hoerner – 29 years old (1997) – Baseball player

Jaxson Dart – 23 years old (2003) – Football player

Jabari Smith Jr. – 23 years old (2003) – Basketball player

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 13:

World Cocktail Day: Host or attend a cocktail party and try out some new flavors, or perfect your hand at mixing any number of drinks, from a White Russian to a classic Cosmo.
Top Gun Day: Host a watch party, with costumes and topical games, or simply gather your friends to watch the 1986 Tom Cruse classic Top Gun and its sequels.
International Hummus Day: Learn to make hummus, put together a hummus sampler plate, or host a party and have your friends bring different hummuses and tasty dipping options.
National Apple Pie Day: The American classic, a staple of holiday dinners and grandma’s cooking. Try your hand at making your own Apple pie, or visit a diner or bakery and indulge.
Leprechaun Day: National Leprechaun Day invites everyone to lean into a pocket-sized world of Irish folklore, where clever shoemakers, secret stashes, and quick escapes feel almost plausible. It’s a playful excuse to swap the ordinary for the magical, even if only for a little while, and to appreciate how old stories keep...
National Crouton Day: These crunchy bread bites are the perfect addition to any salad or soup, adding texture and flavor — easy to make at home!
National Receptionists Day: Give your receptionist a paid day off, or take some time to say thank you or send a card to the receptionists that help handle your affairs every day.
National Frog Jumping Day: Discover Mark Twain’s bizarre and originally unpublished tale of jumping frogs, “The celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras County, and other sketches”.
IEEE Global Engineering Day: Ever wonder who makes all the amazing things we use every day? IEEE Global Engineering Day puts those brilliant problem-solvers in the spotlight. It’s a worldwide celebration of the people who turn big ideas into real inventions. Engineers build things that keep our world moving—from power systems to smartphones. Their...
National Third Shift Workers Day: Emergency workers, 24 hour companies, cargo loaders and more have to work difficult hours, so honor these workers on Third Shift Worker’s Day.
Cough Drop Day: Did you know that Cough Drop Day is celebrated every year, paying homage the soothing little helpers for our throats? How to Celebrate Cough Drop Day Celebrating Cough Drop Day can be both fun and enlightening, with a touch of quirkiness to spice up the event! Here are some playful and engaging...
National Fruit Cocktail Day: What joy it is to sip on a refreshing fruit cocktail! Imagine the delightful mix of colorful fruit flavors that can bring a smile to anyone’s face. National Fruit Cocktail Day is all about that cheerful medley of fruit, the kind that looks like confetti in a bowl and tastes like...
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...
Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day: It can be tough to come up with money to donate, no matter how much you want to. Find a balance and try setting aside just a day’s wages to donate to charity.
Children of Fallen Patriots Day: Children of Fallen Patriots Day honors the sons and daughters of military heroes who died in service. These young people carry the weight of loss while still being asked to do all the ordinary growing up that everyone else does: getting through school, making friends, figuring out who they want...
Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day: Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day draws attention to something many people don’t think about—how health can work differently in male and female bodies. It’s not always the same symptoms, same treatment, or even the same reaction to medicine. A woman having a heart attack might feel sick to her stomach...
National Root Canal Appreciation Day: Once upon a time, a tooth infection could cause lasting harm and even death. Now, dentists can take care of such issues with a simple root canal. Thank goodness!
World Facilities Management Day: Give some thanks to the unrecognized heroes who keep offices, hotels, resorts and more clean, comfortable and running smoothly.
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...
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...