Discover what happened on May 29 in history, along with notable events that shaped exploration, transportation, entertainment, and American history.
What Happened on May 29 in History?
Important events on this day include the first successful climb of Mount Everest, Coca-Cola’s first newspaper advertisement, and Rhode Island becoming the final original colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
MAY 29 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1721 – South Carolina was formally incorporated as a royal colony.
1790 – Rhode Island became the last of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1827 – The first nautical school opened in Nantucket, MA, under the name Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin’s Lancasterian School.
1848 – Former Michigan Governor and Senator Lewis Cass was nominated as candidate for U.S. President. He was defeated in the election by Zachary Taylor.
1848 – Wisconsin became the 30th state to join the United States.
1849 – A patent for lifting vessels was granted to Abraham Lincoln.
1856 – In Bloomington, Illinois, President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech and said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
1886 – Pharmacist John Pemberton placed his first advertisement for Coca-Cola. The ad appeared in The Atlanta Journal.
1910 – An airplane raced a train from Albany, NY, to New York, NY. The airplane pilot Glenn Curtiss won the $10,000 prize.
1912 – Fifteen women were dismissed from their jobs at the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia, PA, for dancing the “Turkey Trot” while on the job.
1916 – The official flag of the President of the United States was adopted.
1919 – The pop-up toaster was patented by Charles Strite.
1922 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that organized baseball was a sport, not subject to antitrust laws.
1942 – Bing Crosby recorded his Christmas song “White Christmas”. It’s the best selling single of all time.
1951 – C.F. Blair became the first man to fly over the North Pole in single engine plane.
1953 – Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became first men to reach the top of Mount Everest.
1962 – Buck (John) O’Neil became the first black coach in major league baseball when he accepted the job with the Chicago Cubs.
1974 – President Richard Nixon agreed to turn over 1,200 pages of edited Watergate transcripts.
1978 – Postage stamps were raised from 13 cents to 15 cents.
1977 – Janet Guthrie becomes the first woman to drive in the Indianapolis 500.
1981 – The U.S. performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
1985 – Thirty-nine people were killed and 400 were injured in a riot at a European Cup soccer match in Brussels, Belgium.
1986 – Colonel Oliver North told National Security Advisor William McFarlane that profits from weapons sold to Iran were being diverted to the Contras.
1988 – President Ronald Reagan began his first visit to the Soviet Union when he arrived in Moscow for a superpower summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
1999 – The Space Shuttle Discovery completed the first docking with the International Space Station.
2001 – In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Casey Martin, a golfer with a degenerative disease, has the legal right under the Americans with Disabilities Act to ride a golf cart during tournaments.
2003 – Scientists created a cloned mule named Idaho Gem from a cell from a mule fetus and a horse egg.
2004 – The National World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC.
2006 – Charlie Gibson took over as sole anchor of ABC’s “World News Tonight”.
2006 – Kimberly Dozier, a CBS television correspondent covering the war in Iraq, was injured in a roadside bombing in Baghdad and hospitalized in critical condition.
2009 – The Pixar animated movie “Up” premiered in theaters.
2015 – The Obama administration removed Cuba from the U.S. terrorism blacklist. The two countries had severed diplomatic relations in January of 1961.
2015 – One World Observatory at One World Trade Center opened.
2015 – The movie “Jurassic World” premiered in theaters.
2018 – ABC TV cancelled the sitcom “Roseanne” after star Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet.
2021 – A Cessna Citation I/SP crashed into Percy Priest Lake in Tennessee, killing all six people on board, including actor Joe Lara and his wife Gwen Shamblin Lara.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 29:
Richie Guerin – 94 years old (1932) – Basketball player and coach
Charles W. Pickering – 89 years old (1937) – Lawyer and judge
Harry Statham – 89 years old (1937) – Basketball player and coach
Joyce Tenneson – 81 years old (1945) – Photographer
Rebbie Jackson – 76 years old (1950) – Singer and actress
Danny Elfman – 73 years old (1953) – Film composer, singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
Robert Beaser – 72 years old (1954) – Composer and educator
Jerry Moran – 72 years old (1954) – Lawyer and politician
John Hinckley Jr. – 71 years old (1955) – Attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan
David Kirschner – 71 years old (1955) – Animator, producer, and author
Ken Schrader – 71 years old (1955) – Race car driver and sportscaster
La Toya Jackson – 70 years old (1956) – Singer-songwriter and actress
Jeb Hensarling – 69 years old (1957) – Lawyer and politician
Annette Bening – 68 years old (1958) – Actress
Mike Stenhouse – 68 years old (1958) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Melissa Etheridge – 65 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist
John Miceli – 65 years old (1961) – Drummer
Eric Davis – 64 years old (1962) – Baseball player
Howard Mills III – 62 years old (1964) – Academic and politician
Steven Levitt – 59 years old (1967) – Economist, author, and academic
Tate George – 58 years old (1968) – Basketball player
Hida Viloria – 58 years old (1968) – Activist
Laverne Cox – 54 years old (1972) – Actress and LGBT advocate
Bill Curley – 54 years old (1972) – Basketball player and coach
Mark Lee – 53 years old (1973) – Guitarist and songwriter
Steve Cardenas – 52 years old (1974) – Martial artist and retired actor
Aaron McGruder – 52 years old (1974) – Author and cartoonist
Daniel Tosh – 51 years old (1975) – Comedian, television host, actor, writer, and executive producer
Jerry Hairston Jr. – 50 years old (1976) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Raef LaFrentz – 50 years old (1976) – Basketball player
Brian Kendrick – 47 years old (1979) – Wrestler
Matt Macri – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Carmelo Anthony – 42 years old (1984) – Basketball player
Nia Jax – 42 years old (1984) – Australian-American professional wrestler
Funmi Jimoh – 42 years old (1984) – Long jumper
Dhar Mann – 42 years old (1984) – Entrepreneur, film producer and YouTuber
Tobin Heath – 38 years old (1988) – Soccer player
Ezekiel Ansah – 37 years old (1989) – Ghanaian-American football player
Riley Keough – 37 years old (1989) – Model and actress
Joe Biagini – 36 years old (1990) – Baseball pitcher
Maika Monroe – 33 years old (1993) – Actress and kiteboarder
Tyler Nevin – 29 years old (1997) – Baseball player
Markelle Fultz – 28 years old (1998) – Basketball player
Austin Reaves – 28 years old (1998) – Basketball player
Gennaro Nigro – 26 years old (2000) – Soccer player
Puka Nacua – 25 years old (2001) – Football player
Andrew Torgashev – 25 years old (2001) – Figure skater
Paul Skenes – 24 years old (2002) – Baseball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 29:
- National Heat Awareness Day: Considering the climate crisis taking place on the planet in recent years, many places are facing hotter conditions more often, and the risks are not limited to the peak of summer. Heat is not just uncomfortable; it can be genuinely dangerous. When the body cannot cool itself effectively, core temperature can...
- National Paperclip Day: Paper clips can do everything from hold papers together (duh) to hang ornaments or scratch lottery tickets. Try some arts, crafts, and DIY using paper clips.
- National Biscuit Day: In the US, they’re flaky bread rolls. In the UK, they’re sweet, crispy treats known as cookies in the US. Bake your own, and try different varieties and flavors.
- International Everest Day: Climb your own “Everest” by taking a hike or climb at a local hill. Want to do the real thing? Start training and researching so you can conquer that peak.
- National Alligator Day: In the swamps and wetlands of the American South, some ancient reptiles silently patrol the waters, showcasing nature's remarkable adaptability.
- World Digestive Health Day: Maintaining a balanced diet and staying hydrated are key to ensuring optimal function and overall well-being.
- Put a Pillow on your Fridge Day: Prior to in-home refrigeration, people would put a piece of cloth in their larder once a year for luck. Put a pillow on your fridge to keep the tradition going.
- Learn About Composting Day: Start a composting pile or get a composting bin and start making your own rich, fertile soil while getting rid of nasty food waste in a sustainable way.
- International Day of UN Peacekeepers: The International Day of UN Peacekeepers spotlights the people who step into tense, uncertain situations with a simple goal: to help communities move away from conflict and toward stability. It’s a day for recognition, reflection, and a clearer understanding of what peacekeeping looks like in practice, beyond the familiar blue...
- End of the Middle Ages Day: End of the Middle Ages Day is a fascinating celebration that marks a significant shift in history. Celebrated annually, this day remembers the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453, an event many see as the close of the Middle Ages and the dawn of the Renaissance. How to Celebrate...
- Oak Apple Day: Oak Apple Day, marked annually, brings together communities in England to celebrate King Charles II’s restoration to the throne in 1660. The occasion is rich in festivity, characterized by lively gatherings and traditional customs. It holds significance as a reminder of unity and shared heritage. Although it is not observed everywhere...
- National 529 Day: Picture a young child with big dreams—maybe they want to be a doctor, an artist, or an engineer. National 529 Day is all about helping families turn those dreams into reality by smartly saving for education. A 529 plan is like a special piggy bank, but instead of just holding...
- 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...
- European Neighbours’ Day: European Neighbours' Day invites people living nearby to connect and build stronger communities. It's a chance to step outside, share a smile, and turn strangers into friends. Across towns and cities, neighbours gather in parks, courtyards, and streets, bringing food, laughter, and stories. The goal is simple: create a sense...
- National Snail Day: National Snail Day brings attention to the small, shelled creatures we often overlook. Snails move slowly, but they do important work. They help clean up nature by breaking down plants and enriching the soil. Many live quietly in gardens, forests, rivers, and even deep oceans. With soft bodies and spiral...
- National Coq Au Vin Day: Indulge your taste buds with Coq au Vin! This classic French dish is the epitome of indulgence, filled with rich flavors, tender chicken, and a touch of wine. So go ahead, raise your fork and enjoy a little taste of France.
- World Tiger Nut Day: Small but mighty, these golden nuggets offer a nutritious crunch, surprising taste, and endless culinary possibilities.
- 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 Hydroxyapatite Day: Hydroxyapatite is a mineral that makes up most of our bones and teeth. It gives them strength and structure. In toothpaste, hydroxyapatite helps repair enamel and reduce sensitivity. Dentists also use it in fillings and to coat implants, helping them bond better with bone. Its natural presence in the body...
- 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?
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