Discover what happened on April 2 in history, along with notable events that shaped science, exploration, and entertainment.
What Happened on April 2 in History?
Important events on this day include the creation of NASA, the start of Titanic sea trials, and the premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
APRIL 2 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1792 – Congress passed the Coinage Act to regulate the coins of the United States. The act authorized $10 Eagles, $5 Half Eagles, $2.50 Quarter Eagle gold coins, silver dollars, dollars, quarters, dimes and half-dimes to be minted.
1872 – G.B. Brayton received a patent for the gas-powered streetcar.
1877 – The first Egg Roll was held on the grounds of the White House in Washington, DC.
1881 – J.L. Hudson’s Haberdashery opened in Detroit. It would later become Hudson’s Department Store.
1889 – Charles Hall patented aluminum.
1902 – “The Electric Theatre”, the first full-time movie theater in the U.S., opened in Los Angeles, CA.
1910 – Karl Harris perfected the process for the artificial synthesis of rubber.
1912 – The ill-fated RMS Titanic began sea trials.
1917 – Jeannette Rankin, first women ever elected to Congress, assumed office.
1917 – President Woodrow Wilson presented a declaration of war against Germany to Congress.
1932 – A $50,000 ransom was paid for the infant son of Charles and Anna Lindbergh. The child was not returned and was found dead the next month.
1935 – Sir Watson-Watt was granted a patent for RADAR.
1956 – Television soap operas “The Edge of Night” and “As the World Turns” debuted on CBS.
1958 – The National Advisory Council on Aeronautics was renamed NASA.
1962 – The City of Walker, MI was incorporated.
1963 – Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. began the first nonviolent civil rights campaign in Birmingham, AL.
1964 – Grand Rapids Magazine was founded.
1966 – The first of 850,000 coho salmon were planted into streams emptying into Lake Michigan. Their success has made them the backbone of Michigan open-water sport fishing.
1968 – Stanley Kubrick’s movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” premiered in theaters.
1972 – Burt Reynolds appeared nude in “Cosmopolitan” magazine.
1974 – Robert Opel streaked naked across the stage at the Academy Awards. Actor David Niven remarked: “Just think, the only laugh that man will probably ever get is for stripping and showing his shortcomings.”
1975 – Construction of the CN Tower was completed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It reached 1,815.4 feet in height, becoming the world’s tallest free-standing structure.
1977 – A new anti-smoking law banned smoking in grocery stores and required no smoking areas in restaurants.
1978 – The television show “Dallas”, the first of the ultra-popular nighttime soaps about wealth and power, premiered on CBS.
1985 – The NCAA Rules Committee adopted the 45-second shot clock for men’s basketball to begin in the 1986 season.
1987 – The speed limit on interstate highways was increased to 65 miles per hour in limited areas.
1988 – U.S. Special Prosecutor James McKay declined to indict Attorney General Edwin Meese for criminal wrongdoing.
1992 – Mob boss John Gotti was convicted in New York, NY of murder and racketeering. He was later sentenced to life in prison.
1995 – The costliest strike in professional sports history ended when baseball owners agreed to let players play without a contract.
1999 – The first ever floorless roller coaster opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. It was originally called “Medusa”, but has since been renamed “Bizarro”.
2014 – The Supreme Court ruled that limits on the total amount of money individuals can give political candidates and political action committees were unconstitutional.
2014 – A shooting spree occurred at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. Four people died, including the gunman, with 16 others injured.
2020 – Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer officially suspended in-person learning for the rest of the school year at K-12 schools across the state due to COVID-19. The state of Michigan ranked 3rd in number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
2020 – The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 1 million.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON APRIL 2:
Al Weis – 88 years old (1938) – Baseball player
Anthony Lake – 87 years old (1939) – Academic and diplomat, 18th United States National Security Advisor
Dr. Demento – 85 years old (1941) – Radio host
Sonny Throckmorton – 85 years old (1941) – Country singer-songwriter
Bill Malinchak – 82 years old (1944) – Football player
Linda Hunt – 81 years old (1945) – Actress
Reggie Smith – 81 years old (1945) – Baseball player and coach
Anne Waldman – 81 years old (1945) – Poet
Emmylou Harris – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Camille Paglia – 79 years old (1947) – Author and critic
Daniel Okrent – 78 years old (1948) – Journalist and author
Joan D. Vinge – 78 years old (1948) – Author
Paul Gambaccini – 77 years old (1949) – American-English radio and television host
Pamela Reed – 77 years old (1949) – Actress
David Robinson – 77 years old (1949) – Drummer
Lynn Westmoreland – 76 years old (1950) – Politician
Gregory Abbott – 72 years old (1954) – Singer-songwriter and producer
Donald Petrie – 72 years old (1954) – Actor and director
Larry Drew – 68 years old (1958) – Basketball player and coach
David Frankel – 67 years old (1959) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Buddy Jewell – 65 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter
Christopher Meloni – 65 years old (1961) – Actor
Billy Dean – 64 years old (1962) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Clark Gregg – 64 years old (1962) – Actor
Pete Incaviglia – 62 years old (1964) – Baseball player and coach
Jonathon Sharkey – 62 years old (1964) – Wrestler
Bill Romanowski – 60 years old (1966) – Football player and actor
Greg Camp – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Phil Demmel – 59 years old (1967) – Guitarist and songwriter
Zane Lamprey – 54 years old (1972) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Roselyn Sánchez – 53 years old (1973) – Puerto Rican-American actress
Randy Livingston – 51 years old (1975) – Basketball player
Pedro Pascal – 51 years old (1975) – Chilean and American actor
Drew Van Acker – 40 years old (1986) – Actor, model and producer
Jesse Plemons – 38 years old (1988) – Actor
Quavo – 35 years old (1991) – Rapper
Zack Steffen – 31 years old (1995) – Soccer player
Zach Bryan – 30 years old (1996) – Singer-songwriter
Dillon Bassett – 29 years old (1997) – Race car driver
Austin Riley – 29 years old (1997) – Baseball player
Emma Myers – 24 years old (2002) – Actress
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR APRIL 2:
- National Love Your Produce Manager Day: Year-round berries, citrus, veggies, and more all at once would have once been impossible. But Produce managers give you all of these options, carefully selected.
- Pascua Florida Day: Pascua Florida Day is a distinctly Floridian observance that spotlights a moment when language, landscape, and exploration collided in a very poetic way. It commemorates the Spanish expedition led by Juan Ponce de León and the naming of “La Florida,” a phrase tied both to the Easter season and to...
- International Children’s Book Day: Revisit your childhood favorites, or read them to your own kids or grandkids. Check out new children’s book recommendations, and help kids learn to love reading.
- International Fact-Checking Day: Make sure information is accurate and reliable — always double-check sources and question things that sound too good to be true!
- National Ferret Day: Spend time with your pet ferret, support a ferret rescue or adoption center, or learn about these fascinating mustelids on National Ferret Day.
- National Reconciliation Day: Wouldn’t it be great if old wounds didn’t hold people back? National Reconciliation Day reminds everyone that making amends is possible. It’s a chance to step beyond disagreements and misunderstandings, offering kindness where hurt once stood. Reaching out can be hard, but letting go of past tensions brings peace. This day...
- National Employee Benefits Day: Imagine walking into work and knowing your company truly has your back. That’s the heart of National Employee Benefits Day. It celebrates the teams who build the plans that keep workers healthy, secure, and supported. These aren’t just extras—they’re lifelines that cover doctor visits, protect futures, and make life outside the...
- National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day: It’s a song. It’s an idiom. It’s one of everyone’s favorite sandwiches: get out your favorite fruit jelly and enjoy the iconic combo of Peanut Butter and Jelly.
- National DIY Day: Learn a new skill and enjoy the self-satisfaction of “doing it yourself” on National DIY Day. Try knitting a scarf, building a chair, or cooking something new.
- National Burrito Day: Line up some meat, beans and cheese on a large flour tortilla. Fold in the sides, fold up the bottom and then roll on, my friend, roll on! And it’s the rolling that really makes the burrito come alive.
- World Autism Awareness Day: Learn about the symptoms and effects, be better prepared to help those with autism in your life, or participate in a fundraiser or event on Autism Awareness Day.
- National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day: National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day encourages horse enthusiasts to saddle up and trot to their local bar for a drink. The idea is simple: saddle up, ride your horse to a local bar, and enjoy a drink. This fun day is perfect for those who want to...
- Don’t Walk Your Dog Day: Exploring alternative activities for your canine companion could be more beneficial than the conventional practice of daily walks.
- Holy Thursday: Holy Thursday, celebrated on the Thursday before Easter, is a pivotal day in Holy Week. This day is marked by the remembrance of Jesus Christ's Last Supper with his disciples. During this dinner, he established the sacrament of Holy Communion. Not only does Holy Thursday honor this significant event, but...
- Autism Acceptance Day: Have you ever met someone who sees the world in a wonderfully different way? Autism Acceptance Day is all about honoring those unique perspectives. It shines a light on people with autism, not as problems to fix, but as individuals with incredible strengths and insights. This day encourages us to move...
- March Madness: Get your game face on for March Madness! This high-energy tournament is a slam dunk of excitement, passion, and heart-pumping action. So grab your team colors, gear up for the showdown, and let the madness begin!
- Make Mine Chocolate: "Make Mine Chocolate" is a lively campaign urging people to think twice before giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. The campaign encourages people to opt for chocolate bunnies instead. This approach helps spread the message of responsible pet ownership while offering a sweet alternative that won't end up in shelters...
- FOP Awareness Month: Raising awareness for a rare condition, efforts unite to support those facing the challenges of Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
- International Pooper Scooper Week: Get ready to grab your gloves and bags because International Pooper Scooper Week is here! Every year, from April 1st to 7th, this unique event unites dog lovers worldwide to tackle a stinky problem—pet waste. This week serves as a lively reminder of our responsibilities as pet owners, pushing us...
- NanoDays: NanoDays celebrates the fascinating world of nanotechnology through hands-on activities and engaging displays, sparking curiosity for learners of all ages. This nationwide event, organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, invites families and communities to explore how nanoscale science shapes future innovations in fields like medicine, electronics, and environmental...
- Laugh at Work Week: Laughing promotes connection, ease, and energy. It lifts moods, clears tension, and helps people feel more at home with each other. During Laugh at Work Week, offices buzz with jokes, playful chats, and shared smiles. This shift brings teams closer in simple, human ways. Even a short burst of laughter...
- Semana Santa: Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a profound time of reflection and devotion in many Christian communities. Streets come alive with solemn processions, participants carry religious icons, and traditional music fills the air. This period focuses on the final days of Jesus Christ, drawing believers together in shared faith and contemplation...
- Passover Begins: Among the most solemn and meaningful observances in the Jewish calendar, Passover marks the beginning of an eight-day journey. This holiday, known as Pesach in Hebrew, commemorates the Israelites' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. The term "Passover" refers to the divine act of sparing the Israelites during the final plague...
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