June 4 in History: Henry Ford’s First Test Drive, the Apple II Debuts, and SpaceX Launches Falcon 9

Scott Winters June 4, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on June 4 in history, along with notable events that shaped transportation, technology, innovation, and space exploration.

What Happened on June 4 in History?

Important events on this day include Henry Ford’s successful test drive of the Quadricycle in Detroit, the debut of the Apple II computer, the infamous “10 Cent Beer Night” baseball game, and the first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

JUNE 4 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1783 – A hot-air balloon was demonstrated by Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier. It reached a height of 1,500 feet.

1784 – Marie Thible became the first woman to fly in a hot-air balloon. The flight was 45 minutes long and reached a height of 8,500 feet.

1812 – The Louisiana Territory had its name changed to the Missouri Territory.

1816 – “The Washington” was launched at Wheeling, WV. It was the first stately, double-decker steamboat.

1876 – The “Transcontinental Express” train arrived in San Francisco, CA, via the First Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after leaving New York, NY.

1892 – The Sierra Club was incorporated in San Francisco, CA.

1896 – Henry Ford made a successful test drive of his new car in Detroit, MI. He called the vehicle a “Quadricycle.”

1910 – A statue of George Armstrong Custer was dedicated in Monroe, MI. The famous general spent much of his life in Monroe.

1912 – Massachusetts became the first state to set a minimum wage.

1919 – The U.S. Senate passed the Women’s Suffrage bill.

1924 – An eternal light was dedicated at Madison Square in New York City in memory of all New York soldiers who died in World War I.

1931 – The first rocket-glider flight was made by William Swan in Atlantic City, NJ.

1935 – “Invisible” glass was patented by Gerald Brown and Edward Pollard.

1937 – The first shopping cart was introduced by Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain in Oklahoma. It was actually a modified folding chair on wheels.

1947 – The House of Representatives approved the Taft-Hartley Act. The legislation allowed the President of the United States to intervene in labor disputes.

1973 – A patent for the ATM was granted.

1974 – The Cleveland Indians had to forfeit a game to the Texas Rangers when fans got out of control on “10 Cent Beer Night”.

1974 – Sally Murphy became the first woman to qualify as an aviator with the U.S. Army.

1977 – The Apple II computer went on sale for the first time.

1982 – The movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”, starring Ricardo Montalbán, premiered in theaters.

1984 – Bruce Springsteen released his “Born in the U.S.A.” album. It spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts and yielded seven Top 10 singles.

1984 – For the first time in 32 years, Arnold Palmer failed to make the cut for the U.S. Open golf tournament.

1985 – The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling striking down an Alabama law that provided for a daily minute of silence in public schools.

1986 – The California Supreme Court approved a law that limited the liability of manufacturers and other wealthy defendants. It was known as the “deep pockets law.”

1992 – The U.S. Postal Service announced that the “young Elvis” stamp beat out the older “Vegas Elvis” stamp in a contest in which more than a million votes were tallied.

1998 – Actor Bob Denver, the star of TV’s “Gilligan’s Island”, was busted for marijuana possession in West Virginia after receiving pot in the mail.

1998 – Terry Nichols was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.

1998 – George and Ira Gershwin got a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2003 – Martha Stewart was indicted for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and securities fraud from the December 2001 sale of shares in ImClone Systems.

2003 – Amazon.com announced that it had received more than 1 million orders for the book “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” The released date was planned for June 21.

2008 – The United Kingdom and Canada became the first countries to be able to buy and rent films at the iTunes Store.

2008 – Johnny Carson’s sidekick Ed McMahon began a fight to avoid foreclosure on his Beverly Hills estate after falling $644,000 behind in mortgage payments.

2008 – Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy led thousands of people in a march on Washington, D.C. to bring awareness to the impact that vaccines may have on autism.

2010 – Falcon 9 Flight 1 was the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.

2018 – In an effort to promote their hamburgers, IHOP changed their name temporarily to IHOB.

2019 – Professional gambler James Holzhauer’s 32-game winning streak came to an end on the TV game show “Jeopardy!”. His streak was just short of Ken Jennings’ record $2.52 million.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JUNE 4:

Bruce Dern – 90 years old (1936) – Actor

Mortimer Zuckerman – 89 years old (1937) – Canadian-American businessman and publisher, founded Boston Properties

Art Mahaffey – 88 years old (1938) – Baseball player

Louis Reichardt – 84 years old (1942) – Mountaineer

Sandra Haynie – 83 years old (1943) – Golfer

Michelle Phillips – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Anthony Braxton – 81 years old (1945) – Saxophonist, clarinet player, and composer

Paquito D'Rivera – 78 years old (1948) – Cuban-American Grammy Award-winning musician

Mark B. Cohen – 77 years old (1949) – Lawyer and politician

Linda Lingle – 73 years old (1953) – Journalist and politician, 6th Governor of Hawaii

Mary Testa – 71 years old (1955) – Singer and actress

Keith David – 70 years old (1956) – Actor

John Hockenberry – 70 years old (1956) – Journalist and author

Terry Kennedy – 70 years old (1956) – Baseball player and manager

Joyce Sidman – 70 years old (1956) – Author and poet

Tinsley Ellis – 69 years old (1957) – Electric blues guitarist and singer

El DeBarge – 65 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Xavier McDaniel – 63 years old (1963) – Basketball player and coach

Andrea Jaeger – 61 years old (1965) – Tennis player and preacher

Svetlana Jitomirskaya – 60 years old (1966) – Mathematician

Robert S. Kimbrough – 59 years old (1967) – Colonel and astronaut

Al B. Sure! – 58 years old (1968) – R&B singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer

Scott Wolf – 58 years old (1968) – Actor

Horatio Sanz – 57 years old (1969) – Chilean-American actor and comedian

Mike Lee – 55 years old (1971) – Lawyer and politician

Noah Wyle – 55 years old (1971) – Actor and producer

Derian Hatcher – 54 years old (1972) – Ice hockey defenseman

Rob Huebel – 54 years old (1972) – Comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter

Mikey Whipwreck – 53 years old (1973) – Wrestler and trainer

Darin Erstad – 52 years old (1974) – Baseball player and coach

Buddy Wakefield – 52 years old (1974) – Poet and author

Henry Burris – 51 years old (1975) – Football player

Angelina Jolie – 51 years old (1975) – Actress, filmmaker, humanitarian, and activist

Roland G. Fryer Jr. – 49 years old (1977) – Economist and professor

T.J. Miller – 45 years old (1981) – Actor and comedian

Evan Lysacek – 41 years old (1985) – Figure skater

Matt Bartkowski – 38 years old (1988) – Ice hockey defenseman

Evan Spiegel – 36 years old (1990) – Internet entrepreneur

Aaron Nola – 33 years old (1993) – Baseball player

Annika Taylor – 33 years old (1993) – British-American cross-country skier

Mackenzie Ziegler – 22 years old (2004) – Child actress , dancer, and recording artist

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JUNE 4:

National Hug Your Cat Day: Embrace your little bundle of furry joy and take some time to appreciate them. Of course, if they don’t want to be hugged, you may need some Band-Aids.
National Christian T-Shirt Day: National Christian T-Shirt Day invites Christians to express their faith in a simple, everyday way: by wearing a T-shirt that shares a Christian message. It’s part personal testimony, part community signal, and part creative outlet, all wrapped up in something as ordinary as cotton and ink. For many people, it’s...
National Cognac Day: Made from wine grapes grown in a particular region of France, Cognac is actually a form of brandy. Host a tasting party and sit around in leather armchairs.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: Some children wake up to laughter. Others wake up to gunfire. For too many, safety is just a dream. The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression exists because their suffering cannot be ignored. It’s about those tiny hands that have held nothing but fear, those bright eyes that...
National Cheese Day: Gather friends or family and host a cheese-tasting event. With everything from gouda to comté to brie, there’s sure to be something for everyone on Cheese Day.
International Corgi Day: Pamper your corgi, buy corgi-related merch to help support the rescue and care of these animals, or get involved with a local event on International Corgi Day.
National Old Maids Day: Spinsters around the world revel in your freedom. Though originally a day to try and find a husband, Old Maid’s Day is now an opportunity to appreciate the lack of one.
Shopping Cart Day: Streamlining errands, these mobile assistants effortlessly carry your finds, making every trip to the shops a breeze.
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week: Securing healthcare integrity, ensuring resources reach those in need, and safeguarding against deceptive practices for a healthier community.
America The Beautiful Week: America The Beautiful Week lights up the first week of June. It's a special time to appreciate the song "America the Beautiful" and to honor the love for the country. This week encourages us to reflect on the natural beauty and patriotic spirit that defines America! How to Celebrate America...
National SAFE Day: Ensuring secure firearm storage enhances community safety, fostering responsible ownership practices, and prioritizing household well-being.
Corpus Christi: Corpus Christi celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday, marks a special day for many Christians around the world. It is a day to honor the tradition of Holy Communion, which commemorates Jesus Christ's Last Supper. While it is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, in some places, it may shift...
National CPR and AED Awareness Week: Have you ever needed to use CPR or an AED in an emergency? National CPR and AED Awareness Week, celebrated during this time in early June, shines a spotlight on the importance of these life-saving skills. This special week is all about educating people on how to respond to a cardiac...
World Day for Assistive Technology: Innovative devices empower individuals with disabilities, enhancing independence, accessibility, and overall quality of life.
Audacity To Hope Day: Audacity to Hope Day invites people to tap into the stubborn, shining strength that shows up when life gets complicated. It celebrates the human ability to face setbacks with courage, imagine something better, and take practical steps toward it, even when confidence feels shaky. At its heart, the day is about...
Canadian Environment Week: Canadian Environment Week is a lively celebration highlighting Canada's commitment to the environment. This special event invites everyone to appreciate nature, raise awareness, and take action to protect the planet. This week coincides with global events like World Environment Day and Clean Air Day, making it a perfect time for...
British Tomato Fortnight: British Tomato Fortnight is an exciting time that celebrates the peak season for homegrown tomatoes in the UK. This event highlights the wonderful flavors and health benefits of British tomatoes, encouraging everyone to enjoy this versatile fruit in various dishes! How to Celebrate British Tomato Fortnight Host a Tomato Tasting...
Stepparents Week: Stepparents Week is a special time to honor those who step into the role of parenthood with open hearts. Celebrated anually, this event recognizes the vital contributions of stepmoms and stepdads. It's all about the love, guidance, and care they provide to children, who are not their own by birth...