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May 21 in History: Lindbergh Lands in Paris, Michigan Chooses the Robin, and “The Empire Strikes Back” Opens

Scott Winters May 21, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on May 21 in history, along with notable events that shaped aviation, entertainment, and Michigan history.

What Happened on May 21 in History?

Important events on this day include Charles Lindbergh completing his historic Atlantic flight, Michigan choosing the robin as its state bird, and The Empire Strikes Back opening in theaters.

MAY 21 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1819 – Bicycles were first seen in the U.S. in New York, NY. They were originally known as “swift walkers”. Within a month, the city banned the bikes because they felt they were hazardous to public safety.

1832 – The Democratic Party held its first national convention.

1834 – Detroit installed its first streetlights.

1881 – The American branch of the Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in Washington, DC.

1881 – The United States Lawn Tennis Association was formed in New York, NY.

1891 – Peter Jackson and Jim Corbett fought for 61 rounds only to end in a draw.

1904 – Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded.

1906 – Louis H. Perlman received his patent for the demountable tire-carrying rim.

1914 – The Greyhound Bus Company was formed in Minnesota.

1927 – Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean when he landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris. The trip began May 20.

1929 – The first automatic electric stock quotation board was used by Sutro and Company of New York, NY.

1929 – William Henry Storey registered the trademark for the board game “Sorry!” in the U.K.

1931 – The robin was named the official state bird of Michigan.

1932 – Bad weather forced Amelia Earhart to land in a pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland. She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

1934 – Oskaloosa, IA, became the first city in the U.S. to fingerprint all of its citizens.

1937 – The song “My Michigan” was adopted as the official state song. The song as composed and written by Giles Kavanagh and H. O’Reilly Clint. It was chosen because it expressed the hopes, ambitions and pride of the people of the State of Michigan. “My Michigan” should not be confused with the song “Michigan, My Michigan” by Douglas Malloch.

1947 – Joe DiMaggio, and five of his New York Yankee teammates, were fined $100 because they had not fulfilled contract requirements to do promotional duties for the team.

1954 – An amendment to lower the voting age to 18 was defeated.

1956 – The U.S. exploded the first airborne hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean over Bikini Atoll.

1968 – The nuclear-powered U.S. submarine Scorpion, with 99 men aboard, was last heard from. The remains of the sub were later found on the ocean floor 400 miles southwest of the Azores.

1969 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono began a ten-day “bed-in” in Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

1980 – “The Empire Strikes Back”, the second film in the “Star Wars” series, opened across the U.S.

1990 – The last episode of TV’s “Newhart” was broadcast by CBS.

1992 – The TV show “Real World” debuted on MTV. Seven strangers were placed in a home and we learned “what happens… when people stop being polite… and start getting real”.

1992 – After 30 seasons, Robin Williams and Bette Midler were Johnny Carson’s last guests on TV’s “The Tonight Show”, one night before the show aired its final episode.

1997 – Susan Lucci lost out in the running for the Best Actress Daytime Emmy for a 17th consecutive year.

1998 – Kip Kinkel, an expelled high school student in Springfield, OR, killed two people and wounded 25 others with a semi-automatic rifle in a school shooting spree. After he was apprehended, police learned that the boy had killed his parents the day before the rampage.

1998 – Microsoft and Sega announced that they were collaborating on a home video game system.

1999 – On her 19th try, Susan Lucci finally won a Daytime Emmy for best actress on TV’s “All My Children”.

2001 – The first Bratz dolls hit the shelves as Yasmin, Jade, Sasha, and Cloe were introduced to the public.

2005 – The tallest roller coaster in the world at the time, Kingda Ka, opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, NJ.

2008 – David Cook was crowned TV’s “American Idol: Season 7” champ. David Archuleta took the runner-up spot.

2011 – Radio broadcaster Harold Camping predicted that the end of the world would occur on this day. Obviously, he was wrong.

2013 – Microsoft announced the release of Xbox One.

2014 – Caleb Johnson won TV’s “American Idol”.

2014 – The National September 11 Museum opened to the public.

2017 – The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed their last show at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, in Uniondale, NY.

2024 – The Greenfield tornado killed 5 and injured 35 across rural Iowa. Wind speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour were estimated from measurements for the third time in history.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 21:

Ronald Isley – 85 years old (1941) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Marcie Blane – 82 years old (1944) – Singer

Bill Champlin – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Al Franken – 75 years old (1951) – Actor, screenwriter, and politician

Mr. T – 74 years old (1952) – Actor and wrestler

Marc Ribot – 72 years old (1954) – Guitarist and composer

Stan Lynch – 71 years old (1955) – Drummer, songwriter, and producer

James Bailey – 69 years old (1957) – Basketball player

Judge Reinhold – 69 years old (1957) – Actor and producer

Naeem Khan – 68 years old (1958) – Indian-American fashion designer

Jefery Levy – 68 years old (1958) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Nick Cassavetes – 67 years old (1959) – Actor, director, and screenwriter

Kent Hrbek – 66 years old (1960) – Baseball player and sportscaster

David Crumb – 64 years old (1962) – Composer and educator

Richard Appel – 63 years old (1963) – Screenwriter and producer

Patrick Grant – 63 years old (1963) – Musician and producer

Dave Specter – 63 years old (1963) – Guitarist

Pete Sandoval – 62 years old (1964) – Salvadoran-American drummer

Lisa Edelstein – 60 years old (1966) – Actress and playwright

George LeMieux – 57 years old (1969) – Lawyer and politician

Dorsey Levens – 56 years old (1970) – Football player and sportscaster

Stewart Cink – 53 years old (1973) – Golfer

Fairuza Balk – 52 years old (1974) – Actress

Havoc – 52 years old (1974) – Rapper and producer

Deron Miller – 50 years old (1976) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Ricky Williams – 49 years old (1977) – Football player

Max B – 48 years old (1978) – Rapper and songwriter

Briana Banks – 48 years old (1978) – German-American porn actress and model

Scott Smith – 47 years old (1979) – Mixed martial artist

Craig Anderson – 45 years old (1981) – Ice hockey player

Edson Buddle – 45 years old (1981) – Soccer player

Josh Hamilton – 45 years old (1981) – Baseball player

Brandon Fields – 42 years old (1984) – Football player

Andrew Miller – 41 years old (1985) – Baseball player

Myra – 40 years old (1986) – Singer and actress

Matt Wieters – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Hutch Dano – 34 years old (1992) – Actor

Olivia Olson – 34 years old (1992) – Singer and actress

Lynn Williams – 33 years old (1993) – Soccer player

Josh Allen – 30 years old (1996) – Football player

Kevin Quinn – 29 years old (1997) – Actor and singer

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 21:

International Tea Day: While everyone loves a cup of tea, many of the workers and producers of that tea face poor conditions and pay. Help raise awareness and keep tea fair.
Chardonnay Day: Chardonnay Day is a lively celebration dedicated to one of the world’s most beloved white wines. Wine enthusiasts across the globe pause to appreciate the rich diversity and versatility of Chardonnay wines on this day. It is a chance to taste widely, compare styles, and learn why this single grape...
National Notebook Day: Open up a notebook and get writing. Jot down your to-do list, journal your thoughts, make lists or even try some creative writing with good old pen and paper.
End of the World: A wild theory that had some on edge, but when the fateful day arrived, it was just another ordinary sunrise.
I Need A Patch For That Day: Take a day to tackle those quick fixes you’ve been putting off, whether it’s a patch for your software or a patch for your jeans, bike tire, or anything else.
National Memo Day: Send someone a memo to let them know it’s National Memo Day! This time-honored method of passing on information has helped offices run for generations.
World Day for Cultural Diversity: The blending of customs, beliefs, and traditions creates a vibrant tapestry of perspectives, enriching societies worldwide.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Join an event or webinar, and engage in the discussion of how to make the internet more accessible to all, including a wide range of disabilities and limitations.
National Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day: Every year on this day, we celebrate Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day. This special day emphasizes the importance of including more fruits and vegetables in our diets. The founders of this day, the Dole Food Company, started it to tackle unhealthy eating habits and raise awareness about how such habits...
Dementia Action Week: Dementia Action Week is a key time of action. It’s time to step up your game on behalf of those who live with the disease. This event means different things while being significant to many different people. But one thing about it is the same -- it should bring us all...
Firewalking Festival: Nestinarstvo, also known as the Firewalking Festival, is a captivating ritual practiced in a few Bulgarian and Greek villages. Participants, called "nestinari," perform an awe-inspiring dance on hot embers, holding sacred icons of Saints Constantine and Helena. Learn About the Firewalking Festival This ritual symbolizes a deep spiritual connection, believed to protect...
National Safe Sun Week: National Safe Sun Week is a special time dedicated to educating people about the dangers of too much sun and how to stay safe. Held in the last week of May, right before the Memorial Day holiday, it marks the beginning of summer. This is when folks often start spending...
Walk to School Week in the UK: Walk to School Week in the UK is a vibrant event encouraging kids to embrace walking as part of their daily routine. This week-long initiative highlights the benefits of walking over driving, making it an engaging and fun experience for children! How to Celebrate Walk to School Week Host a...
Stop the Bleed Day: Do you know how to stop severe bleeding if someone near you gets hurt? Stop the Bleed Day teaches you just that. It’s a day that turns regular people into first responders. Not with big speeches or complicated gear, but with hands-on practice anyone can do. People from all walks of...
National Talk Like Yoda Day: Feel the force flow through you as you speak like Yoda! With his unique, backwards-grammar style, this legendary Jedi master is the epitome of quirky cool. So channel your inner Yoda and let the wisdom of the force guide your words.
National Strawberries and Cream Day: Savor the sweet taste of summer with a bowl of juicy strawberries and creamy delight! This classic combination is the epitome of simplicity and indulgence. So go ahead, treat yourself to a little bit of heaven.
Cool Sword Day: Made of iron, steel, or other metals and often decorated with various precious jewels or filigree, swords of the past were much more than just weapons. They were masterpieces of craftsmanship! And even today, though not often seen or used in real life, the artistry of sword-making and sword-fighting continues...
National American Red Cross Founder’s Day: National American Red Cross Founder’s Day shines a spotlight on a uniquely practical kind of compassion: the kind that shows up with clean bandages, a warm blanket, clear instructions, and a calm voice when everything feels chaotic. It celebrates the founding of the American Red Cross and the idea that...
National Aperitif Day: An aperitif is a light drink enjoyed before dinner. National Aperitif Day celebrates the habit of slowing down and easing into the evening. These drinks are usually dry, slightly bitter, or infused with herbs. Served with small bites, they wake up your taste buds without filling you up. Whether it’s...
National Waitstaff Day: Make sure to leave a good tip as well as giving a big thank-you to the waitstaff who serve us food at restaurants, often while underpaid and overworked.
Foster Care Fortnight: Foster Care Fortnight, an annual event in the UK, typically happens in the first two weeks of May. This initiative is driven by The Fostering Network, a leading charity that promotes foster care awareness and recruitment. The event raises awareness about the growing need for foster carers and their vital...
British Sandwich Week: British Sandwich Week is a lively celebration of one of Britain's most iconic culinary creations: the sandwich. This week, sandwich lovers from all walks of life come together to indulge in the art of sandwich making and tasting. Whether it’s a classic ham and cheese or a gourmet concoction with...
International Heritage Breeds Week: Support the survival of classic livestock breeds like Oberhasli goats, Wiltshire Wild Horn sheep, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs during Heritage Breeds Week.
Epilepsy Awareness Week: Epilepsy Awareness Week is a significant event held annually to highlight epilepsy's impact on millions worldwide. Taking place in May, this week-long event aims to inform and engage people in understanding this neurological condition. The goal is to dispel myths and encourage conversations about epilepsy. The purpose of epilepsy is to...
Be Nice to Nettles Week: Be Nice to Nettles Week is a vibrant annual event that shines a spotlight on the humble nettle plant. Celebrated in mid-May, this period encourages us to appreciate the ecological and health benefits of nettles. How to Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week Here are five quirky and playful ways to dive...
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...