Carmel Mission
On June 3, 1770, Franciscan friar Junipero Serra delivered the first church service at the Carmel Mission. It was was one of 21 missions he and his followers established along the California coast.
American History
Flora and Fauna Series
On June 1, 1990, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Flora and Fauna Series, which was born from plans for a Priority Mail stamp in 1987.
Opening of INTERPHIL ’76
On May 29, 1976, the Seventh US International Philatelic Exhibition (INTERPHIL) opened to the public. Celebrating the American Bicentennial, the show had more than 75,000 visitors.
Century of Progress World’s Fair
The 1933 World’s Fair opened in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1933. The fair was so popular, it ran for two years and was the first international fair to pay for itself.
JFK Calls to Put a Man on the Moon
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech to Congress announcing his plan to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
Opening of the Brooklyn Bridge
On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened to traffic after 14 years of construction. It was the world’s longest suspension bridge at the time, measuring 5,989 feet.
Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman was born on May 23, 1883 in Denver, Colorado. Better known as Douglas Fairbanks, he was one of Hollywood’s top stars of the 1920s, known as “Everybody’s Hero.”
Abraham Lincoln is Awarded Patent
On May 22, 1849, Abraham Lincoln became the only future US president to receive a patent. His invention was intended to help ships more easily move over difficult obstacles in shallow water.
Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery
On May 21, 1804, Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery departed St. Charles on the Missouri River to begin their exploration of the American West. Traveling 8,000 miles over 28 months, they provided the first accurate mapping of the US west of the Mississippi River.