Battle of Guam
On July 21, 1944, US troops landed on Guam, initiating a three-week battle to recapture the island. Today, the people of Guam celebrate July 21 as Liberation Day.
This Day in History
Viking 1 Lands on Mars
On July 20, 1976, Viking 1 became the first man-made object to land on Mars. It was one of the first spacecraft to conduct prolonged scientific studies on the surface on another planet.
1980 Summer Olympics
On July 19, 1980, the Summer Olympic Games opened in Moscow, Soviet Union. They were the first Olympics to be held in Eastern Europe. The US was among 65 countries that boycotted the games, and the numerous stamps issued to commemorate the games were removed from sale until after the Olympics were finished.
Ty Cobb Becomes First Member of the 4,000 Hit Club
Baseball player Ty Cobb got his 4,000th hit, a first in the sport’s history, on July 18, 1927. In all, he set about 90 records during his career, some of which still stand today.
Birth of James Cagney
James Francis Cagney was born on July 17, 1899, in New York City, New York. Best known for playing gangsters, he was also a talented dancer and had excellent comic timing.
District of Columbia
On July 16, 1790, the District of Columbia was established with George Washington’s signing of the Residence Act. It would be 10 years before the national government officially relocated there.
First US-Soviet Joint Issue Stamps
On July 15, 1975, the US and Soviet Union each issued stamps honoring the launch of their Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, their first joint space venture.
International Peace Garden
On July 14, 1932, the International Peace Garden was dedicated, representing the peaceful relationship between the United States and Canada. The park sits on the border between North Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba.
Father Flanagan
Monsignor Edward Joseph Flanagan was born on July 13, 1886, in Leabeg, Ireland. He was the founder of Boys Town, an organization dedicated to helping orphaned and troubled young boys.