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:
1002 – Explorer Leif Erickson landed in America.
1701 – The Collegiate School of Connecticut was chartered in New Haven. The name was later changed to Yale.
1781 – The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War took place in Yorktown, VA. The American forces, led by George Washington, defeated the British troops under Lord Cornwallis.
1855 – Isaac Singer patented the sewing machine motor.
1855 – Joshua C. Stoddard received a patent for his calliope.
1858 – Mail service via stagecoach began between San Francisco, CA, and St. Louis, MO.
1872 – Aaron Montgomery started his mail order business with the delivery of the first mail order catalog. The firm later became Montgomery Wards.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson made their longest telephone call to date. It was a distance of two miles.
1888 – The Washington Monument was officially opened to the public.
1919 – The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. The win would be later tainted when eight Chicago White Sox were charged with throwing the game. The incident became known as the “Black Sox” scandal.
1930 – After landing in Glendale, CA, aviator Laura Ingalls completed the first solo transcontinental flight across the U.S. by a woman
1936 – The first generator at Boulder Dam (which was later renamed Hoover Dam) began transmitting electricity 266 miles away to Los Angeles, CA.
1946 – The first electric blanket went on sale in Petersburg, VA.
1967 – Doc Severinsen became musical director of “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”. He replaced Skitch Henderson.
1969 – In Chicago, IL, the National Guard was called in for crowd control when demonstrations continued in connection with the trial of the “Chicago Eight” that began on September 24th.
1975 – The band KISS visited Cadillac, MI, and participated in the homecoming parade and performed at the homecoming dance.
1985 – A 2½ acre garden memorial was dedicated to John Lennon by his widow Yoko Ono. The memorial was located in New York City’s Central Park is called Strawberry Fields.
1986 – Joan Rivers debuted on her own late night television talk show “The Late Show” on FOX.
1995 – An Amtrak Sunset Limited train was derailed by saboteurs near Palo Verde, AZ. One person was killed and a hundred were injured.
2000 – Brett Hull, of the Dallas Stars, scored his 611th National Hockey League goal. The goal allowed him to pass his father, Bobby Hull, on the all time scoring list bringing him to number 9.
2003 – The ride “Mission: Space” opened to the public in Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. The opening ceremony included several astronauts from all eras of space exploration.
2003 – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II knighted Roger Moore and made Sting a Commander of the British Empire.
2009 – NASA launched the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS). On November 13, it was announced that water had been discovered in the planned impact plume on the moon.
2012 – Jerry Sandusky, the disgraced Penn State football coach, was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for molesting young boys.
2024 – Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key, FL, as a Category 3 hurricane, causing $34.3 billion in damage only two weeks after Hurricane Helene impacted the state.
BIRTHDAYS:
Gordon J. Humphrey – 85 years old (1940) – Soldier, pilot, and politician
Brian Lamb – 84 years old (1941) – Broadcaster, founded C-SPAN
Trent Lott – 84 years old (1941) – Lawyer and politician
Mike Peters – 82 years old (1943) – Cartoonist
Nona Hendryx – 81 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
Tony Zappone – 78 years old (1947) – Photographer and journalist
Jackson Browne – 77 years old (1948) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Brian Downing – 75 years old (1950) – Baseball player
Jody Williams – 75 years old (1950) – Academic and activist, Nobel Prize laureate
Robert Wuhl – 74 years old (1951) – Actor, comedian, and writer
Hank Pfister – 72 years old (1953) – Tennis player
Tony Shalhoub – 72 years old (1953) – Actor and producer
Scott Bakula – 71 years old (1954) – Actor
John O'Hurley – 71 years old (1954) – Actor and game show host
Don Garber – 68 years old (1957) – Businessman
Al Jourgensen – 67 years old (1958) – Cuban-American singer-songwriter and producer
Michael Paré – 67 years old (1958) – Actor
Mike Singletary – 67 years old (1958) – Football player and coach
Kenny Garrett – 65 years old (1960) – Saxophonist and composer
Kurt Neumann – 64 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Ellen Wheeler – 64 years old (1961) – Actress, director, and producer
Guillermo del Toro – 61 years old (1964) – Mexican-American director, producer, and screenwriter
Jimbo Fisher – 60 years old (1965) – Football player and coach
Kenny Anderson – 55 years old (1970) – Basketball player and coach
Steve Jablonsky – 55 years old (1970) – Composer
Steve Burns – 52 years old (1973) – Actor, television host and musician
Keith Booth – 51 years old (1974) – Basketball player and coach
Shmuel Herzfeld – 51 years old (1974) – Rabbi
Sean Lennon – 50 years old (1975) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor
William Alexander – 49 years old (1976) – Author and educator
Stephen Neal – 49 years old (1976) – Football player
Nick Swardson – 49 years old (1976) – Actor and comedian
Brian Roberts – 48 years old (1977) – Baseball player
Juan Dixon – 47 years old (1978) – Basketball player and coach
Vernon Fox – 46 years old (1979) – Football player and coach
Alex Greenwald – 46 years old (1979) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
Lecrae – 46 years old (1979) – Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor
Brandon Routh – 46 years old (1979) – Model and actor
Zachery Ty Bryan – 44 years old (1981) – Actor
Darius Miles – 44 years old (1981) – Basketball player
Stephen Gionta – 42 years old (1983) – Ice hockey player
Spencer Grammer – 42 years old (1983) – Actress
David Plummer – 40 years old (1985) – Swimmer
Derek Holland – 39 years old (1986) – Baseball player
David Phelps – 39 years old (1986) – Baseball player
Craig Brackins – 38 years old (1987) – Basketball player
Henry Walker – 38 years old (1987) – Basketball player
Jake Lamb – 35 years old (1990) – Baseball player
Jerian Grant – 33 years old (1992) – Basketball player
Sam Mewis – 33 years old (1992) – Soccer player
Tyler James Williams – 33 years old (1992) – Actor
Lauren Davis – 32 years old (1993) – Tennis player
George Kittle – 32 years old (1993) – Football player
Scotty McCreery – 32 years old (1993) – Singer and songwriter
Wesley So – 32 years old (1993) – Filipino-American chess grandmaster
Jacob Batalon – 29 years old (1996) – Filipino-American actor
Bella Hadid – 29 years old (1996) – Model
Jharrel Jerome – 28 years old (1997) – Actor
Megan Moroney – 28 years old (1997) – Singer-songwriter
Penei Sewell – 25 years old (2000) – Football player
Ben Shelton – 23 years old (2002) – Tennis player
TODAY IS:
- International Beer and Pizza Day: Pairing a frothy brew with a slice of heaven, creating a dynamic duet of refreshment and satisfaction that's hard to resist.
- Curious Events Day: Dig your teeth into whatever makes you curious, whether it’s the world’s greatest mysteries of history, or where missing socks could possibly go.
- World Sight Day: Help raise awareness about vision loss by joining a World Sight Day event, creating some art, planting trees, and supporting research.
- National Moldy Cheese Day: It may sound gross, but many kinds of moldy cheese are actually a delicious delicacy. Be brave and try a sampling of long-aged, moldy, flavorful cheese.
- Scrubs Day: Wear your pajamas to work…but not really. Scrubs Day is all about appreciating these comfortable work clothes, most common in healthcare fields.
- World Post Day: Give your mailman a thank-you card or gift, and make use of this long-standing public service by sending a letter, package, or other mail the old-fashioned way.
- PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day: PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day brings attention to a rare but serious health issue in children. PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) cause sudden, intense changes in behavior. A child may go from calm to fearful overnight. They might stop eating, develop tics, or...
- National C60 Day: Imagine a soccer ball made entirely of carbon atoms. That’s C60, a molecule shaped like a hollow sphere with 60 carbon atoms arranged in a pattern of pentagons and hexagons. Scientists call it a "buckyball" because it resembles the geodesic domes designed by architect Buckminster Fuller. This unique structure gives C60...
- National Sneakers Day: Sneakers aren’t just shoes. They’re a daily companion—easy to slip on, ready for anything. National Sneakers Day celebrates these everyday heroes. Whether worn for a walk, a workout, or just a regular afternoon, sneakers bring comfort without fuss. They’ve got personality, too. Some are bold and colorful, others are simple and...
- National Leif Erikson Day: Traveling across rough seas and unfamiliar lands takes guts. National Leif Erikson Day honors that fearless leap into the unknown. It highlights a daring voyage made long before maps were trusted. This day sparks interest in a journey that reached new shores and opened minds. Folks don’t need to know...
- Fire Prevention Day: Develop a fire escape plan for your home, and practice it with your family or roommates to make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
- National Manufacturing Week: National Manufacturing Week shines a spotlight on the manufacturing sector's vital role in the economy. Celebrated with events and activities, this week underscores the industry's contributions to innovation and job creation. It involves various organizations sharing data and insights, which helps highlight manufacturing's impact on daily life and the economy. This...
- International Plasma Awareness Week: International Plasma Awareness Week is a global call to celebrate how plasma donors make a real impact on treatment. It brings focus to life-saving plasma donation and how this unique part of blood becomes medicine for people with rare and serious conditions. Donors’ actions echo far beyond the clinic. Each session...
- Rtveli: Rtveli is a vibrant grape harvest festival celebrated across Georgia. It is a joyful blend of hard work and celebration. It's a time when people unite to collect the fruits of their labor and honor the cultural heritage of winemaking that has been cherished for generations. The festival extends beyond...
- Baby Loss Awareness Week: Baby Loss Awareness Week brings light to a tender topic, uniting those touched by the loss of a baby. Celebrated from the 9th to the 15th of October every year, it offers a meaningful time for parents, families, and friends to honor and remember their dearly missed babies. This week serves...
- National Curry Week: Savor vibrant spices and rich blends, an aromatic dance on your palate, igniting a culinary journey of delight.
- World Space Week: Did you know that there's a whole week each year dedicated solely to celebrating the wonders of space? World Space Week, held annually in the autumn, turns eyes skyward to appreciate science and technology's roles in improving our lives through space exploration. How to Celebrate World Space Week Here are some...
- International Cephalopod Awareness Days: International Cephalopod Awareness Days bring attention to some of the ocean’s most surprising animals. These aren’t your average sea creatures. Octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and nautiluses all belong to this wild underwater group. They move like dancers, shift colors like mood rings, and squeeze through tiny cracks like soft-bodied escape artists. People...
- Celebrate Community Week: Fostering collaboration and proactive volunteering, Celebrate Community Week brings people together from all over the globe with a common purpose – to serve their communities and make the world a better, more beautiful place! How to Celebrate Community Week Join a Celebrate Community Week Event Working together to make a positive impact...
- National Midwifery Week: Midwifery is a practice that has been around since ancient times, where an experienced person is called upon to assist and lead when a woman is giving birth. Having evolved over the years, midwives are now extremely skilled and go through rigorous training to give compassionate and competent care to...
- National Spinning and Weaving Week: Two different crafts that often go together, spinning and weaving are ancient practices that are still relevant in modern times to producing all sorts of textiles and fabrics. Spinning in the process of spinning raw fibers, like cotton or wool, into threads. Weaving uses the threads or yarn to layer...
- Mental Illness Awareness Week: Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is an annual event that highlights mental health issues. It takes place during the first week of October and aims to educate and reduce stigma around mental illnesses. This initiative brings together individuals and organizations across the nation, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and...
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Join an event, forum, or exhibition for Hispanic Heritage Month, and appreciate the art, history, and cultural offerings of this rich and expansive heritage.
- Active Aging Week: This seven-day campaign works to improve society’s messages around the topic of aging, promoting the positive aspects and contributions that older adults can have in communities. Get excited and get on board personally with Active Aging Week or encourage an older adult friend or family member to participate! History of Active...
- Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week: These superheroes of the hospital kitchen ensure patients receive delicious, nutritious meals, taking pride in boosting morale and recovery.
- Fire Prevention Week: Head over to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) website to learn what you need to do to protect your home and community in case of a fire.
- International Week of Happiness at Work: You spend so much time working, it’s important to cultivate happiness there. Take the pledge to make your office life happier for you and those around you.
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
