Death of King Kamehameha I
The first king of the Kingdom Hawaii, King Kamehameha I, is believed to have died on May 8, 1819. Kamehameha was the first chief to unite the Hawaiian islands and remains a revered figure in the state today.
This Day in History
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First Flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour
On May 7, 1992, the Space Shuttle Endeavour embarked on its first mission, STS-49. America’s fifth and final operational shuttle, it would go on to fly 122,883,151 miles and spend 299 days in space.
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Works Progress Administration
On May 6, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 7034, establishing the Works Progress Administration. The WPA provided jobs for 8.5 million people in the midst of the Great Depression.
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Happy Cinco de Mayo
On May 5, 1862, Mexican forces defeated French invaders at the Battle of Puebla. Commemoration of the event has come to be known as Cinco de Mayo.
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Opening of Expo ’74
On May 4, 1974, Expo ’74 opened in Spokane, Washington. “Celebrating Tomorrow’s Fresh New Environment,” it was the first world’s fair to focus on environmental themes.
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Distinguished Servicemen Series
On May 3, 2000, the USPS issued the first stamps in the Distinguished Servicemen Series. These stamps were intended as a tribute to all servicemen, not just the soldiers they pictured.
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“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
On May 2, 1908, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was submitted to the US Copyright Office. Neither of the men involved in its creation had ever seen a baseball game.
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Kansas-Nebraska Stamps
On May 1, 1929, the Kansas-Nebraska stamps were officially placed on sale. The stamps were intended to put an end to post office robberies but were heavily criticized and short-lived.
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US Savings Bonds
On April 30, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt announced a new series of US Savings Bonds and bought the first one himself the following day. These bonds went on to help raise over $185 billion dollars during WWII.
