May 17

Scott Winters May 17, 2025 1 Comment

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1792 – The New York Stock Exchange was founded at 70 Wall Street by 24 brokers.

1846 – The saxophone was patented by Adolphe Sax.

1875 – The first Kentucky Derby took place in Louisville, KY. A horse named Aristides was the winner.

1877 – The first telephone switchboard burglar alarm was installed by Edwin T. Holmes.

1881 – Gold was discovered near Ishpeming, MI, by a Marquette chemist and geologist named Julius Ropes.

1932 – Congress changed the name “Porto Rico” to “Puerto Rico.”

1946 – President Harry Truman seized control of the nation’s railroads, delaying a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.

1954 – The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled for school integration in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. The ruling declared that racially segregated schools were inherently unequal.

1961 – Cuban leader Fidel Castro offered to free Bay of Pigs Invasion prisoners in exchange for 500 bulldozers.

1973 – The Senate Watergate Committee began their televised hearings.

1975 – NBC TV bought the rights to show the movie “Gone With the Wind”. The one time rights cost NBC $5 million

1977 – Nolan Bushnell opened the first Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in San Jose, CA.

1985 – Bobby Ewing died on the season finale of TV’s “Dallas” on CBS. He returned the following season.

1990 – Kelsey Grammer was sentenced to 30 days in jail for DWI.

1996 – President Bill Clinton signed a measure requiring neighborhood notification when sex offenders move in. Megan’s Law was named for 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and killed in 1994.

1999 – Alex Trebek received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2000 – After 10 seasons, the final episode of TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” aired.

2000 – The Eagles filed suit against the “Hotel California” restaurant in Dallas, TX, alleging trademark violations.

2001 – The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp based on Charles M. Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip.

2005 – Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson on TV’s “The Simpsons”, was elected mayor of Northridge, CA.

2006 – The U.S. aircraft carrier Oriskany was sunk about 24 miles off Pensacola Beach. It was the first vessel sunk under a Navy program to dispose of old warships by turning them into diving attractions. It was the largest man-made reef at the time of the sinking.

2011 – The final episode of “The Oprah Winfrey” show was recorded in Chicago, IL.

BIRTHDAYS:

Taj Mahal – 83 a old (1942) – Singer

Bill Bruford – 76 a old (1949) – Drummer (Yes, King Crimson)

Kathleen Sullivan – 72 a old (1953) – Television journalist

Sugar Ray Leonard – 69 a old (1956) – Boxer

Audie Desbrow – 68 a old (1957) – Drummer (Great White)

Paul Di’Anno – 67 a old (1958) – Vocalist (Iron Maiden)

Jim Nantz – 66 a old (1959) – Sports announcer (CBS)

Enya – 64 a old (1961) – Singer

Craig Ferguson – 63 a old (1962) – Television host (“The Late Late Show”, “The Drew Carey Show”)

Page McConnell – 62 a old (1963) – Keyboardist (Phish)

Trent Reznor – 60 a old (1965) – Lead vocalist (Nine Inch Nails)

Paige Turco – 60 a old (1965) – Actress (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III”, TV’s “All My Children”, “The Agency”, “The 100”)

Hill Harper – 59 a old (1966) – Actor (“CSI: NY”, “Limitless”)

Thom Filicia – 56 a old (1969) – Television personality (TV’s “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy”)

Jordan Knight – 55 a old (1970) – Singer (New Kids on the Block)

Sasha Alexander – 52 a old (1973) – Actress (TV’s “Rizzoli and Isles”, “NCIS”, “Dawson’s Creek”)

Stefanie Ridel – 52 a old (1973) – Singer, TV host (TV’s “Great Pretenders”)

Sendhil Ramamurthy – 51 a old (1974) – Actor (TV’s “Heroes”, “Covert Affairs”)

Kandi Burruss – 49 a old (1976) – Musician (Xscape, TV’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”, “The Kandi Factory”)

Derek Hough – 40 a old (1985) – Dancer, judge (TV’s “Dancing With the Stars”, “World of Dance”)

Tahj Mowry – 39 a old (1986) – Actor (TV’s “Smart Guy”, “Full House”)

Erin Richards – 39 a old (1986) – Actress (TV’s “Gotham”. “Breaking In”)

Nikki Reed – 37 a old (1988) – Actress (“The Twilight Saga” movies, “Thirteen”, “Lords of Dogtown”)

TODAY IS:

World Baking Day: Cookies, brownies, pies, bread…try out some new recipes, or revisit your old favorites to have a little fun in the kitchen and end up with tasty treats.
National Walnut Day: Go nuts for walnuts! These crunchy delights pack a punch of flavor and nutrition in every bite. Sprinkle them on salads, bake them into treats, or snack on them straight from the bag. It's a nutty good time!
National Pinot Grigio Day: The popular white wine known as Pinot Grigio comes from a mix of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Visit a winery, host a tasting event, or simply enjoy a glass.
Stepmother’s Day:
Ride a Unicycle Day: A solitary wheel, a feat of equilibrium and poise, embodies a singular journey of grace and mastery in the world of cycling.
World Telecommunications Day: Pay tribute to the pioneers of communication who make it possible for us to talk to each other across great distances, by phone, Zoom, text, and more.
International Child Helpline Day:
Emergency Medical Services Day:
National Idaho Day:
National Graduation Tassel Day:
National Mushroom Hunting Day:
World Hypertension Day: Get your blood pressure tested and learn about the condition known as hypertension, which can cause an array of health problems for people of all ages.
National Pack Rat Day:
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial:
Rural Life Sunday:
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia: Be an active ally or participant in LGBTQ spaces and events to join the fight against the tragically still common homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia.
World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day: Neurofibromatosis is not just a mouthful; it’s also a disfiguring and sometimes painful genetic disorder, which as of yet has no cure or means of prevention.
National Pinkfix Day:
National Cherry Cobbler Day: Get ready for a sweet and juicy delight with cherry cobblers! Indulge in a warm and gooey treat, topped with a crisp crust—perfect for any time of the day.
Cannes Film Festival:
National Stationery Week: Sharpen your pencils and break out your fine pens, and take this excuse to use some fancy stationery. Write a loved one, find a pen pal, or even make your to-do list.
American Craft Beer Week: Exploring diverse flavors and styles, American craft beer showcases innovation and craftsmanship, delighting enthusiasts worldwide.
Foster Care Fortnight:
International Heritage Breeds Week: Support the survival of classic livestock breeds like Oberhasli goats, Wiltshire Wild Horn sheep, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs during Heritage Breeds Week.
National Salt Awareness Week:
Be Nice to Nettles Week:
Learning at Work Week:
National EMS Week:
Tracky Dack Day:
Sun Awareness Week:
National Mental Health Awareness Week:
National Doughnut Week:
National Public Gardens Week:
M.E. Awareness Week:
National Salvation Army Week: Supporting those in need, providing hope, and creating positive change—efforts that embody the essence of humanitarian assistance.
I Love My State Parks Week: