July 23

Scott Winters July 23, 2025 1 Comment

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:

1715 – The first lighthouse in America was authorized for construction at Little Brewster Island, MA.

1827 – The first swimming school in the United States opened in Boston, MA. Students included John Quincy Adams and James Audubon.

1829 – The first typewriter, called a typographer, was patented by William Austin Burt.

1877 – The first railroad passenger service began in Cincinnati, OH.

1880 – The first U.S. commercial hydro-electric power plant began operation in Grand Rapids, MI on the Grand River.

1903 – The Ford Motor Company sold its first car. It had a price tag of $850. The automobile featured a twin-cylinder combustion engine designed and manufactured by Henry Ford.

1904 – The ice cream cone was invented by Charles E. Menches in St. Louis, MO.

1926 – Fox Films purchased the patents of the Movietone sound system for recording sound onto film.

1938 – In Utah, the first federal game preserve was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1958 – Dutch Village in Holland, MI opened for the first time. On their first day they had a total of two customers and made $12.73.

1962 – Telstar relayed the first publicly transmitted, live trans-Atlantic television program, featuring Walter Cronkite.

1967 – In Detroit, MI, one of the worst riots in U.S. history began on 12th Street in the inner city. The riots killed 43 people, injured 342 and burned about 1,400 buildings.

1972 – The U.S. launched Landsat 1 (ERTS-1). It was the first Earth-resources satellite.

1982 – Diet Coke was introduced.

1982 – The movie “The World According to Garp”, starring Robin Williams, premiered in theaters.

1982 – The International Whaling Commission decided to end commercial whaling by 1985-86.

1984 – Vanessa Williams became the first Miss America to resign when she surrendered her crown after nude pictures of her appeared in “Penthouse” magazine.

1985 – Commodore unveiled the personal computer Amiga 1000.

1986 – Britain’s Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in London. (They divorced in 1996.)

1992 – The “New B-93”, 93.7 WBCT-FM in Grand Rapids, MI, hit the airwaves.

1993 – The movie “Coneheads”, starring Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin, debuted in theaters.

1995 – The comet Hale-Bopp was discovered. It became visible to the naked eye on Earth nearly a year later.

1997 – Digital Equipment Corporation filed antitrust charges against computer chipmaker Intel.

1998 – U.S. scientists at the University of Hawaii clone more than 50 “carbon-copy” mice.

1999 – The movie “Inspector Gadget: The Movie”, starring Matthew Broderick, premiered in theaters.

2000 – Lance Armstrong won his second Tour de France.

2015 – NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-452b (a planet sometimes quoted to be an “Earth 2.0” or “Earth’s Cousin”) by the Kepler space telescope.

2021 – Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians announced it would be re-named the Guardians, after the Guardians of Traffic, eight large Art Deco statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge, located near their playing field.

2022 – The World Health Organization declared Monkey Pox a global health emergency.

BIRTHDAYS:

Ronny Cox – 87 years old (1938) – Actor (“Beverly Hills Cop”)

Edie McClurg – 80 years old (1945) – Actress (” A River Runs Through It”, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, TV’s “WKRP in Cincinnati”, “Harper Valley PTA”, “The Hogan Family”)

Andy Mackay – 79 years old (1946) – Played oboe and saxophone (Roxy Music)

John Hall – 77 years old (1948) – Singer (Orleans), U.S. Congressman

Blair Thornton – 75 years old (1950) – Guitarist (Bachman-Turner Overdrive)

Martin Gore – 64 years old (1961) – Guitarist, keyboardist (Depeche Mode)

Woody Harrelson – 64 years old (1961) – Actor (TV’s “Cheers”, movies “The People Vs. Larry Flynt”, “The Messenger”, “White Men Can’t Jump”, “Indecent Proposal”, “The Hunger Games”, “Natural Born Killers”, “Kingpin”)

Eriq La Salle – 63 years old (1962) – Actor (“Coming to America”, “One Hour Photo”, TV’s “ER”)

Slash (Saul Hudson) – 60 years old (1965) – Guitarist (Guns N’ Roses)

Charisma Carpenter – 55 years old (1970) – Actress (TV’s “Angel,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”)

Sam Watters – 55 years old (1970) – Singer (Color Me Badd)

Chad Gracey – 54 years old (1971) – Drummer (Live)

Alison Krauss – 54 years old (1971) – Singer, musician

Marlon Wayans – 53 years old (1972) – Actor (“Little Man”, “White Chicks”, “Scary Movie” 1 & 2, TV’s “The Wayans Brothers”, “In Living Color”)

Kathryn Hahn – 52 years old (1973) – Actress (TV’s “Parks and Recreation”, movie “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”)

Monica Lewinsky – 52 years old (1973) – White House Intern who had an “inappropriate relationship” with President Bill Clinton

Michelle Williams – 45 years old (1980) – Singer (Destiny’s Child)

Daniel Radcliffe – 36 years old (1989) – Actor (“Harry Potter” movies)

TODAY IS:

National Gorgeous Grandma Day: Let your granny know how much she means to you, and pay tribute to all the older women who have shown us that you’re never too old to live your dreams.
National Vanilla Ice Cream Day: This classic creamy dessert pairs perfectly with pies, cakes, and everything in between. It's a timeless treat for any occasion!
Sprinkle Day: Make your day just a little more festive and sweet by adding sprinkles to everything! Within reason, of course. Oatmeal, muffins, and of course dessert all benefit.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day: There’s a reason Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are one of the most popular candies. Chocolate and peanut butter just go together. You can’t go wrong with this combo.
World Sjogren’s Day: Dry eyes, parched mouth, joints ache, a silent struggle against the body's own defenses, yet resilience persists.
National Women Touched By Addiction Day: National Women Touched By Addiction Day honors women who’ve faced addiction either personally or through loved ones. Some have fought their own battles. Others have supported sisters, friends, mothers, or daughters on a long road to healing. How to Observe National Women Touched By Addiction Day National Women Touched By Addiction Day...
Hot Enough For Ya Day: Hot Enough For Ya Day is one of those light-hearted breaks that make summer feel a bit more playful. People toss around the question with a grin, knowing full well the answer. It's not just about complaining—it's a shared joke, a way to laugh through the sweat. Neighbors chat, fans...
International Yada, Yada, Yada Day: Re-watch the iconic Seinfeld episode that made “yada-yada-yada” a household substitute for “blah-blah-blah”. It’s okay to make it a binge-watch, too.
National Zoo Keeper Week: Dedicated professionals caring for exotic animals, ensuring their well-being, educating the public, and contributing to conservation efforts.
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...
National Moth Week: Sign up for an event or citizen project during Moth Week to get involved, take and post photos, and get a good look at the interesting varieties of moths out there.
National Parenting Gifted Children Week: The unique joys and challenges of nurturing exceptional talents, fostering creativity, and supporting their emotional growth.