Opening of the 1976 Summer Olympics
On July 17, 1976, Queen Elizabeth II presided over the opening ceremonies of the Games of the XXI Olympiad in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. These were the first and only Summer Olympics held in Canada.
American History
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Death of John C. Frémont
Explorer and soldier John C. Frémont died on July 13, 1890, in New York City. Nicknamed “The Pathfinder,” Frémont led several expeditions to the American West, served in the Civil War, and was a promising presidential candidate.
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Birth of George Eastman
Entrepreneur George Eastman was born on July 12, 1854, in Waterville, New York. Eastman invented the first successful film roll, making photography accessible for everyone and contributing to the development of motion pictures.
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Skylab Returns to Earth
On July 11, 1979, Skylab, the first manned US space laboratory, returned to Earth after six years in space. The success of the Skylab project encouraged the continued inclusion of humans in space study.
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Happy Birthday James A. Whistler
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was born on July 10, 1834, in Lowell, Massachusetts. A celebrated American artist, he’s best known for his painting many call “Whistler’s Mother.”
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Happy Birthday to Peter Francisco
Pedro Francisco, also known as the “Virginia Giant,” the “Giant of the Revolution,” and the “Virginia Hercules,” was born on July 9, 1760, in Porto Judeu, Terceira, Portugal. A hero of the Revolutionary War, many of his exploits were larger than life.
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Acadia National Park
On July 8, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created Sieur de Monts National Monument, which later became Acadia National Park. The park is located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, Isle Au Haut, on the Schoodic Peninsula.
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First U.S. All-Star Baseball Game
On July 6, 1933, the first All-Star game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. It’s become a beloved annual tradition held nearly every since.
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The National Labor Relations Act of 1935
On July 5, 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 into law. The basis of modern US labor law, it guarantees private sector employees the right to organize in trade unions, bargain collectively, and strike.
