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:
1787 – Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution becoming the first of the United States.
1796 – John Adams was elected to be the second President of the United States.
1836 – Martin VanBuren was elected the eighth President of the United States.
1854 – The steamer “Westmoreland” sank near Sleeping Bear Dunes in Lake Michigan. It was rumored to have had 280 barrels of whiskey on board along with $10,000 in gold coins. The shipwreck was finally found in 2010.
1925 – Old Main, Central Michigan University’s first building, was destroyed by fire.
1926 – The gas operated refrigerator was patented by The Electrolux Servel Corporation.
1930 – The first television commercial in the United States was broadcast in Boston, MA. The commercial was for I.J. Fox Furriers.
1941 – Pearl Harbor, located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, was attacked by nearly 200 Japanese warplanes. The attack resulted in the U.S. entering into World War II.
1945 – The microwave oven was patented.
1946 – A fire at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, GA, killed 119 people. It was the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history.
1963 – CBS became the first network to use “instant replay” during a nationally televised sporting event. A fourth-quarter touchdown by Army quarterback Rollie Stichweh was played back moments after it took place during the Army-Navy football game at Philadelphia, PA.
1972 – Apollo 17 was launched at Cape Canaveral, FL. It was the last U.S. Moon mission. The crew took the photograph known as “The Blue Marble” as they left the Earth.
1982 – Charlie Brooks Jr., a convicted murderer, became the first prisoner in the U.S. to be executed by injection, at a prison in Huntsville, TX.
1987 – The MTV game show “Remote Control” debuted. It was hosted by Ken Ober and featured Colin Quinn as the announcer/sidekick.
1990 – Johnny Depp and Tim Burton teamed up for the first time when “Edward Scissorhands” was released in theaters.
1993 – Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders suggested that the U.S. government study the impact of drug legalization.
1995 – A probe sent from the Galileo spacecraft entered into Jupiter’s atmosphere. The probe sent back data to the mother-ship before it was destroyed. It had been launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis six years earlier.
1996 – The Space Shuttle Columbia returned from the longest-ever shuttle flight of 17 days, 15 hours and 54 minutes.
1999 – The Recording Industry Association of America sued the peer-to-peer file-sharing service Napster, alleging copyright infringement.
1999 – A U.S. federal grand jury indicted a former convict in the 1995 disappearance of atheist leader Madalyn Murray O’Hair.
2001 – The movie “Ocean’s Eleven”, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, premiered in theaters.
2001 – A double-album of music from “America: A Tribute to Heroes”, the three hour telethon staged just days after the September 11th terrorist attacks, was certified gold three days after its release.
2003 – A 12 x 26 inch painting of a river landscape and sailing vessel by Martin Johnson Heade was sold at auction for $1 million. The painting was found in the attic of a suburban Boston, MA home where it had been stored for more than 60 years.
2004 – Technology giant IBM sold its personal computer division to Beijing company Lenovo for $1.75 billion.
BIRTHDAYS:
Noam Chomsky – 97 years old (1928) – Linguist and philosopher
Ellen Burstyn – 93 years old (1932) – Actress
Melba Pattillo Beals – 84 years old (1941) – Journalist and activist
Susan Isaacs – 82 years old (1943) – Author and screenwriter
Nick Katz – 82 years old (1943) – Mathematician and academic
Bernard C. Parks – 82 years old (1943) – Police officer and politician
John Bennett Ramsey – 82 years old (1943) – Businessman and pilot
Johnny Bench – 78 years old (1947) – Baseball player and sportscaster
James Keach – 78 years old (1947) – Actor, producer, and director
Gary Morris – 77 years old (1948) – Country singer-songwriter and actor
Tony Thomas – 77 years old (1948) – Screenwriter and producer
Tom Waits – 76 years old (1949) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor
Susan Collins – 73 years old (1952) – Politician
Mary Fallin – 71 years old (1954) – Businesswoman and politician, 27th Governor of Oklahoma
Mark Hofmann – 71 years old (1954) – a.k.a. the Mormon Murderer; American counterfeiter , forger of fake Mormon historical documents , and convicted murderer
Larry Bird – 69 years old (1956) – Basketball player and coach
Barbara Weathers – 62 years old (1963) – R&B/soul singer
Patrick Fabian – 61 years old (1964) – Actor
Peter Laviolette – 61 years old (1964) – Ice hockey player and coach
Jeffrey Wright – 60 years old (1965) – Actor
C. Thomas Howell – 59 years old (1966) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Louise Post – 59 years old (1966) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Tino Martinez – 58 years old (1967) – Baseball player, coach, and sportscaster
Nina Turner – 58 years old (1967) – Politician
Tammy Lynn Sytch – 53 years old (1972) – Wrestler and manager
Terrell Owens – 52 years old (1973) – Football player
Alan Faneca – 49 years old (1976) – Football player
Sunny Sweeney – 49 years old (1976) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Eric Chavez – 48 years old (1977) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Shiri Appleby – 47 years old (1978) – Actress, director, and producer
Sara Bareilles – 46 years old (1979) – Singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress
Jennifer Carpenter – 46 years old (1979) – Actress
Dan Bilzerian – 45 years old (1980) – Poker player and internet celebrity
Lou Amundson – 43 years old (1982) – Basketball player
Mike Mucitelli – 42 years old (1983) – Mixed martial artist
Al Thornton – 42 years old (1983) – Basketball player
Aaron Gray – 41 years old (1984) – Basketball player
Jon Moxley – 40 years old (1985) – Wrestler
Billy Horschel – 39 years old (1986) – Golfer
Nita Strauss – 39 years old (1986) – Guitarist
Nathan Adrian – 37 years old (1988) – Swimmer
Andrew Goudelock – 37 years old (1988) – Basketball player
Kyle Hendricks – 36 years old (1989) – Baseball player
Sean Couturier – 33 years old (1992) – American-Canadian ice hockey player
Alex Singleton – 32 years old (1993) – Football player
Pete Alonso – 31 years old (1994) – Baseball player
Geno Chiarelli – 31 years old (1994) – Politician
Hunter Henry – 31 years old (1994) – Football player
Tommy Nelson – 28 years old (1997) – Actor
Boo Buie – 26 years old (1999) – Basketball player
Dane Belton – 25 years old (2000) – Football player
Jalen McMillan – 24 years old (2001) – Football player
Torri Huske – 23 years old (2002) – Swimmer
TODAY IS:
- Walt Disney Day: Binge some favorite childhood movies, plan a trip to “the most magical place on earth” or enjoy some Disney-themed activities like baking and crafting.
- National Slime Day: Gooey fun offering endless sensory play, creativity, and stress relief, captivating both kids and adults with its fascinating textures.
- National Cotton Candy Day: Head over to your local funfair for an airy, spun-sugar treat or whip up creative cakes and cocktails like cotton candy cupcakes and fairy floss martinis.
- International Civil Aviation Day: The realm of flight, where the sky becomes a canvas for human ingenuity and exploration, offers a thrilling journey beyond the ground.
- National Illinois Day:
- National Letter Writing Day:
- National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: A solemn remembrance of a pivotal historical event that forged resilience and unity in the face of adversity, inspiring generations.
- Zagreb Advent:
- Hanukkah: The festival of lights — a time for family, delicious eats, and stories that remind of hope's enduring glow in the darkest times.
- National Cookie Cutter Week:
- Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week:
- Advent:
- Computer Science Education Week:
- National Influenza Vaccination Week:
- Older Driver Safety Awareness Week:
- Inclusive Schools Week:
- Clerc-Gallaudet Week:
- Hornbill Festival:
- National Handwashing Awareness Week:
- Blue Christmas: While most people are at home opening presents, emergency workers are on duty, ensuring the safety of their communities over the holidays.
- Day of the Little Candles:
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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.
