July 14

Scott Winters July 14, 2025 2 Comments

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:

1798 – Congress passed the Sedition Act. This act made it a federal crime to write, publish, or utter false or malicious statements about the United States government.

1853 – The opening of the first major U.S. World’s Fair, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York, NY.

1868 – Alvin J. Fellows received a patent for the tape measure.

1874 – The Chicago Fire burned down 47 acres of the city, destroying 812 buildings, killing 20, and resulting in the fire insurance industry demanding municipal reforms from Chicago’s city council.

1881 – Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Pat Garrett outside Fort Sumner in New Mexico.

1911 – Harry N. Atwood, an exhibition pilot for the Wright brothers, landed an airplane on the South Lawn of the White House. He was later awarded a Gold medal from President William Howard Taft for the feat.

1913 – Gerald R. Ford Jr., the 38th president of the United States, was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Omaha, NE. His mother’s second husband later adopted and renamed him.

1914 – The patent for liquid rocket fuel was given to Robert H. Goddard.

1943 – The George Washington Carver National Monument in Joplin, MO, became the first National Park to honor an African American.

1946 – Dr. Benjamin Spock’s “The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care” was first published. It became America’s second most popular book of the 20th Century (after The Bible).

1951 – The first sports event to be shown in color, on CBS-TV, was the Molly Pitcher Handicap at Oceanport, NJ.

1960 – Jane Goodall arrived at the Gombe Stream Reserve in present-day Tanzania to begin her famous study of chimpanzees in the wild.

1965 – The Mariner 4 flyby of Mars took the first close-up photos of another planet.

1968 – Hank Aaron, of the Atlanta Braves, hit his 500th career home run.

1968 – After more than 50 years, bars in Michigan could resume serving liquor on Sundays.

1969 – The United States $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills were officially withdrawn from circulation.

1975 – Disney announced plans for Epcot Center in Orlando, FL.

1981 – The All-Star Game was postponed because of a 33-day-old baseball players strike. The game was held on August 9.

1987 – Steve Miller got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1991 – Demi Moore appeared in body paint but otherwise nude and extremely pregnant on the cover of “Vanity Fair” magazine.

1998 – Los Angeles, CA sued 15 tobacco companies for $2.5 billion over the dangers of secondhand smoke.

1999 – The movie “The Blair Witch Project” debuted in theaters. The film was made for less than $60,000, but made $248.6 million at the box office.

2000 – A powerful solar flare, later named the Bastille Day event, caused a geomagnetic storm on Earth.

2001 – Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympics. It was the first time that the China had been awarded the games.

2003 – Jerry Springer officially filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate from Ohio.

2003 – The United States Government admitted that Area 51 existed.

2008 – The iTunes Music Store reached 10 million applications downloaded.

2009 – The iTunes Music Store reached 1.5 billion applications downloaded.

2015 – NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft became the first space mission to explore Pluto, completing the initial survey of the Solar System. The probe launched in 2006 and traveled over 3 billion miles.

2018 – On what would have been President Gerald R. Ford’s 105th birthday, a statue of First Lady Betty Ford was unveiled at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, MI. The statue shows Mrs. Ford in a dance-like pose. The statue was sculpted by local artist J. Brett Grill.

2020 – Wearing a mask to fight COVID-19 was required in the state of Michigan in indoor public places and outdoor crowded spaces. Businesses were told they must refuse entry or service to those who do not wear a face covering (with limited exceptions).

BIRTHDAYS:

Gerald Rudolph Ford – July 14, 1913-December 26, 2006 – 38th President of the United States

Rosey Grier – 93 years old (1932) – Football player, preacher, needlepoint

Vincent Pastore – 79 years old (1946) – Actor (TV’s “The Sopranos”)

Jane Lynch – 65 years old (1960) – Actress (TV’s “Glee”, “Hollywood Game Night”, movie “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”)

Matthew Fox – 59 years old (1966) – Actor (TV’s “Lost,” “Party of Five”)

Missy Gold – 55 years old (1970) – Actress (Played Katie on TV’s “Benson”)

Taboo – 50 years old (1975) – Rapper/singer (Black Eyed Peas)

Scott Porter – 46 years old (1979) – Actor (TV’s “Friday Night Lights”)

TODAY IS:

National Mac & Cheese Day: Diving into a warm, comforting bowl of cheesy goodness, each forkful a delightful blend of creamy and savory delight.
Shark Awareness Day: Tackle the stigma and raise awareness about the reality of sharks, which are beautiful creatures that keep the ocean ecosystem running and rarely attack humans.
World Chimpanzee Day: Explore the intricate lives of our primate relatives, witnessing their intelligence, social bonds, and fascinating behaviors in the wild.
National Grand Marnier Day: An innovative liquor, Grand Marnier goes well with many things. Mix it together with champagne, or make a Grand Marnier-based margarita with tequila.
International Non-Binary People’s Day: Non-binary identities challenge traditional gender norms, fostering inclusivity and understanding in diverse communities worldwide.
Emmeline Pankhurst Day: Emmeline Pankhurst Day marks the birthday of one of the UK's most famous suffragettes. This day should remind all of us about the past - and still ongoing - struggle for gender equality. Women today have the right to vote and equality in many countries. But women's rights are not...
National Tape Measure Day: Precision tools in the hands of artisans, ensuring every project is meticulously crafted to perfection, measuring every detail.
National Nude Day: For those who hate laundry and happen to love going au naturel, National Nude Day may just turn out to be their favorite day of the year! How to Celebrate National Nude Day Certainly this is a free day, meant to be enjoyed without the restrictions and impediments of that...
National Break Free From the Big Three Day: National Break Free From the Big Three Day is a lively call to action. It invites people to reassess parts of their lives that no longer serve them well, especially in the world of mobile plans. Companies like Xfinity Mobile created this day to encourage stepping away from the major...
National Be Nice to Bugs Day: National Be Nice to Bugs Day invites us to treat tiny creatures with care. It reminds people that bugs help pollinate plants, enrich soil, and balance nature. Many tend to squish these small beings out of fear or habit. Instead, this day urges us to pause and show respect. Letting a spider quietly leave a...
Pandemonium Day: Free yourself from the stuffiness of orderly life, and let pandemonium reign. Wear what you want, eat what you want, and don’t do anything because you think you “should”.
International Town Criers Day: Long before modern technology, when most people couldn’t read, town criers kept people up to date on current events and news. See what its like yourself!
Bastille Day: Get ready to celebrate France's national holiday with fireworks, parades, and a whole lot of French culture and history!
Fiesta de la Tirana: Fiesta de la Tirana is a vibrant celebration held in northern Chile. It transforms the small town of La Tirana into a bustling center of energy, color, and sound. Thousands of people come together, filling the streets with traditional costumes, lively dances, and rhythmic music. It's a festival where faith...
Galway International Arts Festival: The Galway International Arts Festival is a vibrant celebration of creativity that takes over the city of Galway each year. This event brings together artists, performers, and visitors from around the globe for two weeks of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and more. The festival transforms Galway into a hub of...
Running of the Bulls: The Running of the Bulls draws people from around the world. This thrilling spectacle involves a group of bulls charging through narrow streets, guided by daring runners. The excitement is electric, and thousands watch and participate. It's a day filled with anticipation, adrenaline, and community spirit. Whether you're a participant...