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May 28 in History: Jell-O Is Trademarked, Volkswagen Is Founded, and the Golden Gate Bridge Opens to Cars

Scott Winters May 28, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on May 28 in history, along with notable events that shaped transportation, entertainment, science, and American culture.

What Happened on May 28 in History?

Important events on this day include the trademarking of Jell-O, the founding of Volkswagen, and the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge to vehicle traffic.

MAY 28 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1830 – President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which relocated Native Americans.

1892 – The Sierra club was organized in San Francisco, CA.

1896 – The first recorded automobile accident happened in New York City. Henry Wells of Springfield, MA was driving a new Duryea Motor Wagon when he collided with Evelyn Thomas of New York, who was riding a bicycle. Thomas went to the hospital with a broken leg. Wells ended up spending the night in jail.

1897 – Pearle Bixby Wait trademarked his invention — a flavored gelatin dessert. His wife, May, came up with the name “Jell-O”. The original flavors were strawberry, orange, lime, and raspberry.

1928 – Chrysler Corporation merged with Dodge Brothers, Inc.

1929 – Warner Brothers debuted “On With The Show” in New York, NY. It was the first all-color-talking picture.

1934 – The Dionne quintuplets were born near Callender, Ontario, to Olivia and Elzire Dionne. The babies were the first quintuplets to survive infancy.

1937 – President Franklin Roosevelt pushed a button in Washington, DC, signaling that vehicular traffic could cross the newly opened Golden Gate Bridge in California.

1937 – The German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen was founded.

1953 – The Walt Disney film “Melody” premiered in the Paramount Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The picture was the first 3-D cartoon.

1954 – President Dwight Eisenhower signed a law that added the words “under God” to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

1957 – The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) was established. Two years later, the organization launched the Grammy Awards.

1957 – National League club owners voted to allow the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to Los Angeles, CA, and that the New York Giants could move to San Francisco, CA.

1961 – The human rights organization, Amnesty International, was founded.

1966 – Disney’s iconic ride, “It’s a Small World”, opened at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. It was originally developed for the 1964 New York World’s Fair’s.

1984 – The Penguin Colony exhibit opened at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, MI.

1996 – President Bill Clinton’s former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, Jim McDougal and Susan McDougal, and the Governor of Arkansas Jim Guy Tucker, were convicted of fraud.

1998 – Dr. Susan Terebey discovered a planet outside of our solar system with the use of photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

1999 – In Milan, Italy, Leonardo de Vinci’s “The Last Supper” was put back on display after 22 years of restoration work.

2002 – Tom Brokaw announced that he would leave NBC Nightly News after the 2004 Presidential election. MSNBC anchor Brian Williams was named as his successor.

2002 – The Mars Odyssey found signs of large ice deposits on the planet Mars.

2002 – The last steel girder was removed from the original World Trade Center site in New York, NY. Cleanup duties officially ended with closing ceremonies at Ground Zero.

2004 – The movie “The Day After Tomorrow”, starring Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Sela Ward, premiered in theaters.

2014 – A new roller coaster ride opened at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It was the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

2015 – The Observatory at One World Trade Center officially opened.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 28:

Carroll Baker – 95 years old (1931) – Actress

Shlomo Riskin – 86 years old (1940) – Rabbi and academic, founded the Lincoln Square Synagogue

Stanley B. Prusiner – 84 years old (1942) – Neurologist and biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate

Rudy Giuliani – 82 years old (1944) – Lawyer and politician, 107th mayor of New York City

Gladys Knight – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Billy Vera – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter and actor

Patch Adams – 81 years old (1945) – Physician and author, founded the Gesundheit! Institute

John N. Bambacus – 81 years old (1945) – Military veteran (USMC) and politician

John Fogerty – 81 years old (1945) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Skip Jutze – 80 years old (1946) – Baseball player

Leland Sklar – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter and bass player

Roger Briggs – 74 years old (1952) – Pianist, composer, conductor, and educator

Laura Amy Schlitz – 71 years old (1955) – Author and librarian

Jerry Douglas – 70 years old (1956) – Guitarist and producer

Kirk Gibson – 69 years old (1957) – Baseball player and manager

Ben Howland – 69 years old (1957) – Basketball player and coach

Mark Sanford – 66 years old (1960) – Military veteran (USAF) and politician, 115th Governor of South Carolina

Phil Vassar – 62 years old (1964) – Singer-songwriter

Chris Ballew – 61 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter and bass player

Roger Kumble – 60 years old (1966) – Director, screenwriter, and playwright

Glen Rice – 59 years old (1967) – Basketball player

Mike DiFelice – 57 years old (1969) – Baseball player and manager

Marco Rubio – 55 years old (1971) – Lawyer and politician

Maura Johnston – 51 years old (1975) – Journalist, critic, and academic

Liam O'Brien – 50 years old (1976) – Voice actor

Elisabeth Hasselbeck – 49 years old (1977) – Talk show host and author

Jake Johnson – 48 years old (1978) – Actor

Ronald Curry – 47 years old (1979) – Football player and coach

Laura Bailey – 45 years old (1981) – Voice actress

Daniel Cabrera – 45 years old (1981) – Dominican-American baseball player

Eric Ghiaciuc – 45 years old (1981) – Football player

Adam Green – 45 years old (1981) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Alexa Davalos – 44 years old (1982) – French-American actress

Jhonny Peralta – 44 years old (1982) – Dominican-American baseball player

Steve Cronin – 43 years old (1983) – Soccer player

Humberto Sánchez – 43 years old (1983) – Dominican-American baseball player

Roman Atwood – 43 years old (1983) – YouTuber

Colbie Caillat – 41 years old (1985) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Bryant Dunston – 40 years old (1986) – American-Armenian basketball player

Michael Oher – 40 years old (1986) – Football player

Seth Rollins – 40 years old (1986) – Wrestler

T.J. Yates – 39 years old (1987) – Football player

NaVorro Bowman – 38 years old (1988) – Football player

Percy Harvin – 38 years old (1988) – Football player

Craig Kimbrel – 38 years old (1988) – Baseball player

Danielle Lao – 35 years old (1991) – Tennis player

Alec Benjamin – 32 years old (1994) – Singer and songwriter

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 28:

Amnesty International Day: Raise awareness, join an initiative, or donate to Amnesty International to join the fight against human rights violations, from child labor to marriage law.
National Brisket Day: Take the plunge and try your hand at making one of the more complicated but also most delicious cuts of beef, the ever-popular brisket.
World Hunger Day: World Hunger Day, observed annually, sparks global action to combat hunger, a challenge that affects every nation. This day emphasizes the critical need for sustainable solutions to hunger and malnutrition worldwide. It draws attention to the various factors that contribute to food insecurity, such as conflict, climate change, and poverty. The...
World Passion Fruit Martini Day: A delightful concoction, blending exotic flavors into a captivating elixir—a sensory journey beyond the ordinary, and a symphony of taste.
Menstrual Hygiene Day: Many women do not have access to feminine hygiene products, which can lead to shame and even dropping out of school. Donate to charities to help rectify this.
National Hamburger Day: Grill up a hamburger for yourself, or visit any number of sandwich shops and restaurants to enjoy one of mankind’s greatest, greasiest culinary inventions.
First Republic Day in Armenia: First Republic Day marks a significant moment for a nation, celebrating its formal transition to a republic. It stands as a proud reminder of a country's ability to govern itself, guided by the values embedded in its constitution. The day reflects the collective will of the people, unified under the...
Republic Day in Azerbaijan: Republic Day in Azerbaijan is a significant national celebration that marks a pivotal moment in the country's history. It symbolizes the establishment of the first democratic republic in the Muslim world. The day is celebrated with pride, reflecting the country's commitment to the ideals of freedom, equality, and self-governance. How to...
Slugs Return From Capistrano Day: Slugs Return From Capistrano Day celebrates a humorous twist on the famous swallow migration. It claims that once swallows flock back to Southern California, slugs head home from Capistrano and reappear in gardens nationwide. Folks use this playful idea to notice a creature we usually ignore. Awareness grows that slugs, though...
National Children’s Gardening Week: Did you know that children who spend time in gardens often grow up to be more environmentally conscious? National Children’s Gardening Week aims to inspire a love for gardening among kids. Held annually in the late spring, this event is a great opportunity to encourage children to explore nature! How to...
Whooping Crane Day: Whooping Crane Day celebrates one of the tallest and rarest birds in North America. With bright white feathers, long legs, and wide wings, the whooping crane catches the eye wherever it goes. Its deep, echoing call can carry for miles through marshes and open skies. Once nearly gone, this bird now...
Thales Day: An ancient philosopher, he revolutionized early Greek thought with his inquiries into the nature of the universe.
National Multiple Births Awareness Day: Fascinating instances where two or more babies are born from the same pregnancy, captivating medical marvels.
Garden Wildlife Week: Garden Wildlife Week, observed in the early summer, is a lively celebration of the natural world found in our gardens. This week encourages people to appreciate and protect the birds, insects, and plants in their backyards. The celebration highlights the vital role these creatures play in keeping our environment healthy! How...
National Beef Burger Day: National Beef Burger Day is a celebration dedicated to honoring America's beloved beef burger. This day highlights the joy of savoring a juicy beef patty nestled between fresh buns, topped with favorite condiments and crisp vegetables. It's a time when burger enthusiasts come together to appreciate the rich flavors and satisfying...
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...
Italian Beef Week: What's better than sinking your teeth into a juicy sandwich piled high with tender beef, topped with sweet peppers?