Crater Lake National Park
Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park was established on May 22, 1902. It’s America’s fifth-oldest national park, the only national park in Oregon, and is home to the deepest lake in the country – Crater Lake.
This Day in History
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Birth of Frances E. Willis
American diplomat Frances E. Willis was born on May 20, 1899, in Metropolis, Illinois. She was a pioneer in her field – the first woman to become a career Foreign Service Officer, the first US ambassador to Switzerland, and the first female Career Ambassador, among other notable firsts.
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Hot Wheels
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.
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Peace Officers Memorial Day
On May 15, 1963, the US observed its first Peace Officers Memorial Day. It’s a day that pays tribute to America’s local, state, and federal peace officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty.
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First Native American Day
One of the first recorded celebrations of Native American Day was held on May 13, 1916, in New York. Other states adopted similar days later in the year before the first national celebrations were held in 1976. Today Native American Heritage Day is held in November, which is also American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
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Birth of Lincoln Ellsworth
Polar explorer Lincoln Ellsworth was born on May 12, 1880, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the first person to fly over both polar regions, which earned him two Congressional Gold Medals. He’s one of just four people to have received two of the prestigious medals.
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Birth of Ottmar Mergenthaler
Inventor Ottmar Mergenthaler was born on May 11, 1854, in Hatchel, Kingdom of Württemberg (present-day Baden-Württemberg). Mergenthaler invented the linotype machine, which made it quicker and easier to set complete lines of type for printing presses, revolutionizing printing in the 19th century.
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Birth of Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin on born on May 10, 1894, in Kremenchuk, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire (present0day Ukraine). Tiomkin was a celebrated composer, producing more than 100 film scores including those for It’s a Wonderful Life, High Noon, and many more.
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BEP’s First Photogravure Stamp
On May 8, 1971, the USPS issued the first stamp printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on its new Andreotti photogravure press. The press enabled the BEP to print stamps with more colors more affordably.
