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:
1636 – Harvard College was founded in Massachusetts. The original name was Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was the first school of higher education in America.
1793 – Eli Whitney applied for a patent for his cotton gin.
1886 – The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland in the presence of it’s sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. She’s a big girl! The statue weighs 225 tons and is 152 feet tall. It was originally known as “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
1904 – The St. Louis Police Department became the first to use fingerprinting.
1919 – The U.S. Congress enacted the Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. Prohibition began the following January but was repealed in 1933 with the passing of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
1922 – The first coast-to-coast radio broadcast of a football game.
1929 – The first child was born in an aircraft in Miami, FL.
1929 – Black Monday, a day in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, which also saw major stock market upheaval.
1936 – The Statue of Liberty was rededicated by President Theodore Roosevelt on its 50th anniversary.
1942 – The Alaska Highway (Alcan Highway) was completed through Canada to Fairbanks, AK.
1949 – President Harry Truman swore in Eugenie Moore Anderson as the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. Anderson was the first woman to hold the post of Ambassador.
1956 – Elvis Presley received a polio vaccination on national TV. This single event was credited with raising immunization levels in the U.S. from 0.6% to over 80% in just six months.
1958 – Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was elected Pope. He took the name John XXIII.
1965 – Construction of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO, was completed. The arch is 630 feet high.
1970 – The U.S. and U.S.S.R. signed an agreement to discuss joint space efforts.
1976 – John D. Erlichman (a former aide to President Richard Nixon) entered a federal prison camp in Safford, AZ, to begin serving his sentence for Watergate-related convictions.
1996 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a record 337.17 points (or 5%). The day before, the Dow had dropped 554.26 points (or 7%).
2001 – Families of people killed in the September 11 terrorist attack gathered in New York, NY, for a memorial service.
2001 – The movie, “Monsters, Inc.”, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, premiered in theaters. It featured the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal,
2009 – “This Is It”, a documentary of the rehearsals for Michael Jackson’s doomed London comeback concerts, opened in theaters. It went on to become the highest-grossing documentary of all time.
2012 – Finishing a four-game sweep to win the World Series, the San Francisco Giants beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3.
2014 – An unmanned Antares rocket carrying NASA’s Cygnus CRS Orb-3 resupply mission to the International Space Station exploded just seconds after taking off from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia.
2018 – The Boston Red Sox defeated the L.A. Dodgers 4-games-to-1 to win the World Series.
BIRTHDAYS:
Virginia Held – 96 years old (1929) – Philosopher, author, and academic
Charles A. Gargano – 91 years old (1934) – Diplomat, businessman and government official
Lenny Wilkens – 88 years old (1937) – Basketball player and coach
Dave Budd – 87 years old (1938) – Basketball player
Jane Alexander – 86 years old (1939) – Actress and producer
Andy Bey – 86 years old (1939) – Singer and pianist
Susan Harris – 85 years old (1940) – Screenwriter and producer
Dennis Franz – 81 years old (1944) – Actor
Don Iverson – 80 years old (1945) – Golfer
Telma Hopkins – 77 years old (1948) – Singer and actress
Dwight Davis – 76 years old (1949) – Basketball player
Caitlyn Jenner – 76 years old (1949) – Decathlete and actress
Joe R. Lansdale – 74 years old (1951) – Martial artist and author
Annie Potts – 73 years old (1952) – Actress
Desmond Child – 72 years old (1953) – Musician, songwriter, and producer
Bill Gates – 70 years old (1955) – Businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Microsoft
Indra Nooyi – 70 years old (1955) – Indian-American businesswoman
Zach Wamp – 68 years old (1957) – Businessman and politician
Randy Wittman – 66 years old (1959) – Basketball player and coach
Landon Curt Noll – 65 years old (1960) – Computer scientist and mathematician
Daphne Zuniga – 63 years old (1962) – Actress
Lauren Holly – 62 years old (1963) – Actress
Sheryl Underwood – 62 years old (1963) – Comedian, actress, and talk show host
Jami Gertz – 60 years old (1965) – Actress
Steve Atwater – 59 years old (1966) – Football player
Chris Bauer – 59 years old (1966) – Actor
Matt Drudge – 59 years old (1966) – Blogger and activist, founded the Drudge Report
Andy Richter – 59 years old (1966) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter
Julia Roberts – 58 years old (1967) – Actress and producer
John Romero – 58 years old (1967) – Video game designer, co-founded Id Software
Chris Broussard – 57 years old (1968) – Journalist and sportscaster
Jeremy Davies – 56 years old (1969) – Actor
Ben Harper – 56 years old (1969) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Greg Eagles – 55 years old (1970) – Voice actor and producer
Terrell Davis – 53 years old (1972) – Football player and sportscaster
Brad Paisley – 53 years old (1972) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Trista Sutter – 53 years old (1972) – Reality star
Montel Vontavious Porter – 52 years old (1973) – Wrestler and actor
Braden Looper – 51 years old (1974) – Baseball player
Joaquin Phoenix – 51 years old (1974) – Actor and producer
Justin Guarini – 47 years old (1978) – Singer-songwriter and actor
Jawed Karim – 46 years old (1979) – Computer scientist
Christy Hemme – 45 years old (1980) – Wrestler and ring announcer
Nate McLouth – 44 years old (1981) – Baseball player
Jeremy Bonderman – 43 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Anthony Lerew – 43 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Jarrett Jack – 42 years old (1983) – Basketball player
Finn Wittrock – 41 years old (1984) – Actor
Troian Bellisario – 40 years old (1985) – Actress
Anthony Fantano – 40 years old (1985) – Music critic
Frank Ocean – 38 years old (1987) – Singer-songwriter
Devin Ebanks – 36 years old (1989) – Basketball player
Lexi Ainsworth – 33 years old (1992) – Actress
Andrew Harrison – 31 years old (1994) – Basketball player
Jae'Sean Tate – 30 years old (1995) – Basketball player
Jasmine Jessica Anthony – 29 years old (1996) – Actress
Jack Eichel – 29 years old (1996) – Ice hockey player
Stetson Bennett – 28 years old (1997) – Football player
Taylor Fritz – 28 years old (1997) – Tennis player
Nolan Gould – 27 years old (1998) – Actor
TODAY IS:
- International Animation Day: International Animation Day brings the world together to celebrate the magic of animation on October 28th every year. This special day marks the anniversary of the first-ever public performance of animation by Charles-Émile Reynaud in Paris in 1892. It's a day when everyone, from kids to adults, can enjoy the creativity...
- Chucks-N-Pearls Day: Chucks-N-Pearls Day is a lively celebration honoring Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President of the United States. People across the country join in by wearing Chuck Taylor sneakers and pearl accessories, reflecting Harris' signature style. The combination of casual sneakers and elegant pearls represents a unique fashion statement that...
- Wild Foods Day: Exploring nature's pantry, discovering wild treasures, and connecting with the earth through gathering natural sustenance.
- Plush Animal Lover’s Day: Did you know there's a special day just for cuddling your stuffed animals tighter? That's right! Plush Animal Lover's Day wraps its arms around the idea of cherishing those fluffy friends who've seen us through thick and thin. Celebrated on October 28th each year, it's not just a day for...
- National Immigrants Day: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…. I lift my lamp beside the golden door! – Statue of Liberty, New York City, USA History of National Immigrants Day Celebrating the ‘melting pot’ that is the United States, National Immigrants Day brings to light the uniqueness...
- National Internal Medicine Day: Have you ever wondered who manages complex health issues with expertise? Internal medicine physicians, often called internists, are the specialists who diagnose and treat a wide range of adult diseases. They handle everything from common illnesses to chronic conditions, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care. Their deep understanding of the human...
- National Chocolate Day: With so many different varieties of this delicious treat, it can be so hard to pick a favorite. What will you choose to indulge your sweet tooth?
- Czech Independence Day: Czech Independence Day holds great significance for the Czech Republic. It marks a moment of pride and unity, celebrating the nation's freedom and identity. This day symbolizes the beginning of self-governance, reflecting the country's journey towards establishing its state. The celebrations and events associated with this day foster a sense...
- National First Responders Day: Paramedics, ambulance drivers, firefighters and EMTs all deserve a little bit of love and affection every day! But National First Responders Day offers a special opportunity for showing thanks and appreciation to these men and women who are ready to play a crucial part in saving lives whenever the need...
- Shampoo Week: Shampoo Week is a lively celebration of hair care, happening annually from the last week of October into November. It highlights the importance of keeping our hair clean, healthy, and shiny. Haircare enthusiasts come together to raise awareness about good shampoo habits and promote products that nourish different hair types. Celebrated...
- Global Media and Information Literacy Week: Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available online? Media and Information Literacy (MIL) equips you with the skills to navigate and evaluate this information effectively. It helps you distinguish between credible news and misleading content, enhancing your ability to make informed decisions. Therefore, every year, from...
- Chhath Puja: Chhath Puja is a vibrant festival that celebrates and honors the Sun, which is seen as the source of all life. Families gather near rivers or other water bodies, creating a beautiful scene of offerings and rituals. Brightly colored fruits, vegetables, and sweets are arranged in baskets while the setting...
- Red Ribbon Week: Touching millions of people around the world since its inception, Red Ribbon Week encourages everyone, particularly high school and college students, to celebrate a lifestyle that is drug-free! History of Red Ribbon Week Red Ribbon Week is an initiative that started back in 1985 when it was launched in California. Eventually...
- Bat Appreciation Week: Did you know that bats are not just Halloween symbols but fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem? Bat Appreciation Week, celebrated annually from October 24th to 31st, highlights bats' importance and promotes their conservation. Bats are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help control insect populations, pollinate...
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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.
