On July 28, 1897, Alexander Winton began a nine-day test-drive of his automobile, proving its reliability to investors. Winton went on to become the top-selling automobile manufacturer for several years. He had more than 100 patents, and often allowed others to use them for free when safety was involved.
On May 18, 1968, Hot Wheels released its first toy cars, dubbed “The Sweet 16.” Since then, they’ve become one of the world’s most popular toy car makers, with the company estimating that they sell eight Hot Wheels every second.
On April 20, 1987, the second Sunshine Skyway Bridge opened. It was rebuilt following a 1980 accident. Considered a symbol of Florida, it’s also the longest cable-stayed concrete bridge in the world.
On August 20, 2005, the USPS issued the first stamps in a nostalgic series honoring classic cars.
On May 27, 1930, the Chrysler Building, the tallest man-made structure at the time, opened to the public.
Touring New England on August 22, 1902, Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting President to publicly ride in an automobile.