May 11

Scott Winters May 11, 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:

1858 – Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.

1910 – Glacier National Park in Montana was established.

1924 – Mercedes-Benz was formed when Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merged two companies.

1927 – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded.

1934 – A severe two-day dust storm stripped the topsoil from the Great Plains of the U.S. and created a “Dust Bowl.” The storm was one of many.

1947 – The creation of the tubeless tire was announced by the B.F. Goodrich Company.

1948 – The first Polaroid camera was sold in New York, NY for $89.99.

1960 – The first contraceptive pill was made available.

1972 – The San Francisco Giants announced the trade of Willie Mays to the New York Mets.

1976 – ABC broadcast the final episode of TV’s “Marcus Welby MD”.

1984 – The Detroit Tigers set a major league record by winning 26 of their first 30 games

1985 – More than 50 people died when a flash fire swept a soccer stadium in Bradford, England.

1987 – In Baltimore, MD, the first heart-lung transplant took place. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bruce Reitz of the Stanford University School of Medicine.

1990 – Ritchie Valens was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame posthumously.

1996 – On a single day, eight people died during summit attempts on Mount Everest.

1996 – An Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 caught fire (started by improperly handled chemical oxygen generators in the cargo hold) shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashed into the Florida Everglades. All 110 people on board were killed.

1997 – Garry Kasparov, world chess champion, lost his first ever multi-game match. He lost to IBM’s chess computer Deep Blue. It was the first time a computer had beaten a world-champion player.

1998 – A French mint produced the first coins of Europe’s single currency. The coin is known as the euro.

2001 – U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced his decision to approve a 30-day delay of the execution of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. McVeigh had been scheduled to be executed on May 16, 2001. The delay was because the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had failed to disclose thousands of documents to McVeigh’s defense team.

2005 – Macaulay Culkin took the stand in Michael Jackson’s defense and called claims that Jackson molested him “absolutely ridiculous.”

2005 – In Washington, DC, the White House and the Capitol were evacuated after a small plane entered restricted airspace. Two fighter jets escorted the Cessna, which was carrying a pilot and his student, to a nearby airport. Authorities did not press charges.

2015 – Fox announced that TV’s “American Idol” would conclude at the end of its fifteenth season.

2020 – The American Hockey League cancelled the remainder of their 2019-2020 hockey season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to COVID-19. The Grand Rapids Griffins playing season ended.

BIRTHDAYS:

Louis Farrakhan – 92 years old (1933) – National Representative of the Nation of Islam

Eric Burdon – 84 years old (1941) – Singer (The Animals)

Dr. Robert Jarvik – 79 years old (1946) – Scientist, researcher, entrepreneur (Developed the Jarvik-7 artificial heart). Born in Midland, MI.

Shohreh Adhdashloo – 73 years old (1952) – Actress (“The Report”, “Shatranje Bad”, “Sand and Fog”, TV’s “House of Saddam”)

Frances Fisher – 73 years old (1952) – Actress (“Titanic,” “Unforgiven”)

Boyd Gaines – 72 years old (1953) – Actor (TV’s “One Day at a Time”, movies “Porky’s”, “Heartbreak Ridge”, “The Sure Thing”)

Martha Quinn – 66 years old (1959) – One of the original MTV VJ’s

Jeffrey Donovan – 57 years old (1968) – Actor (TV’s “Burn Notice”)

Austin O’Brien – 44 years old (1981) – Actor (“Last Action Hero”, “My Girl 2”, “The Lawnmower Man”, TV’s “Promised Land”)

Jonathan Jackson – 43 years old (1982) – Actor (TV’s “General Hospital”, “Nashville”)

Prince Royce – 36 years old (1989) – Singer

TODAY IS:

National Eat What You Want Day: Drop your rules and restrictions around eating and just enjoy life a little by eating what you want on this health and body image conscious day.
National Technology Day: From smartphones to social media, and with new innovations emerging every day, it's exciting to see how tech will shape our future.
National Twilight Zone Day: Enter another dimension…a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. Binge some of Rod Serling’s mind-bending episodes of The Twilight Zone.
Hostess CupCake Day: Hostess CupCake Day is a delightful celebration dedicated to the iconic Hostess CupCake, a beloved American snack. This day brings joy to many as it honors the famous chocolate cupcake with its signature white squiggle and creamy filling -- it's all about indulging in these sweet snacks and sharing the...
National Veal Ban Action Day: National Veal Ban Action Day gets people thinking about something often hidden behind closed doors—the lives of baby calves. It’s not just about cutting out a type of meat. It’s about understanding what those animals go through before they end up on someone’s plate. Many are confined in small crates...
World Ego Awareness Day: Spend some time in self-reflection, and understand the role of the ego in your own life, in order to make sure it doesn’t come into conflict with others.
National Foam Rolling Day: Muscles tighten up after long days, tough workouts, or even sitting too much. National Foam Rolling Day is a chance to give them some relief. Foam rolling works like a mini massage, using a firm cylinder to press into sore spots and loosen tension. A few minutes of rolling can...
Mother’s Day: Call, visit, or plan an outing to show your mom you appreciate her, or share memories of your mother if you’ve lost that important figure in your life.
National Nurse’s Week: Give a big thank-you to the hard-working, often under-paid medical professionals who keep hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes and hospice care running.
Children’s Book Week : Spark the joy of exploration in young minds through tales that open doors to realms of endless fascination and growth.
Dog Anxiety Awareness Week: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week spotlights a common but often overlooked issue affecting our canine companions. This special week encourages dog owners to recognize and address the signs of anxiety in their pets, promoting a happier, healthier life for them! How to Celebrate Dog Anxiety Awareness Week Be a Detective for the...
Screen-Free Week: Have you ever tried turning off your screens for a whole week? Imagine a week without your phone, computer, or TV. This is what Screen-Free Week is all about. It happens every year during the first week of May. During this time, people across the globe power down their devices...
Deaf Awareness Week: Deaf Awareness Week is the one week when society can really make an effort to raise public awareness of the issues that can affect deaf people and their culture. Society and its development are entwined with the growth of deaf communities and deaf education this week. It’s when we can...
National Mills Weekend: National Mills Weekend is a vibrant event in the UK, where hundreds of windmills and watermills open their doors to the public. How to Celebrate National Mills Weekend Visit a Local Mill Start your adventure by visiting a nearby windmill or watermill. Many open their doors to the public during National Mills...
Dying Matters Awareness Week: Dying Matters Awareness Week is a vibrant annual event in the UK. This week encourages open conversations about death, dying, and bereavement. It invites communities to break the silence around these often-taboo subjects to foster a more supportive environment for everyone facing these realities. How to Observe Dying Matters Week Host a...
Christian Aid Week: Christian Aid Week is an important time that provides urgent humanitarian relief to the less fortunate and urges long-term programs to help. It calls out the plight of the suffering, giving immediate aid. But it does more; it stands up for the rights of - and demands justice for -...
Somerset Day: Somerset Day turns the spotlight on the stunning county of Somerset in southwest England. This day isn't just a date on the calendar; it's a heartfelt tribute to Somerset's rich tapestry of life! From its historical battles to modern-day festivals, Somerset has carved its niche as a place of beauty...
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
National Hospital Week: Whether performing a small elective procedure or treating a life-threatening illness, hospitals are critical places that make a huge difference in the health of individuals, families and communities across the nation. National Hospital Week is here to celebrate and show appreciation for all of the different people who are integral...
National Public Gardens Week: National Public Gardens Week shines a spotlight on the incredible beauty and significance of public gardens. Held each year in early May, it's a week-long celebration designed to highlight the vital role these gardens play in our communities. From fragrant flower displays to serene landscapes, they offer more than just...
I Love My State Parks Week: The United States defines up to 10,000 different areas as state parks. State parks protect more than 14 million acres of landscape, ranging from coastal beaches to forests, sandy deserts to swampland. In addition, state parks provide local residents with opportunities for recreation, access to clean and safe green spaces...