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May 15 in History: Las Vegas Is Founded, Mickey Mouse Debuts, and McDonald’s Opens

Scott Winters May 15, 2026

Discover what happened on May 15 in history, along with notable events that shaped entertainment, business, and American culture.

What Happened on May 15 in History?

Important events on this day include the founding of Las Vegas, the debut of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and the opening of the first McDonald’s restaurant.

MAY 15 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1862 – The U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

1905 – Las Vegas, NV, was founded when 110 acres, in what would later become downtown, were auctioned off.

1911 – The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company, ruling it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

1912 – Ty Cobb, of the Detroit Tigers, rushed a heckler during a game and was suspended indefinitely.

1918 – Regular airmail service between New York (NY), Philadelphia (PA), and Washington, DC, began under the direction of the Post Office Department, which later became the U.S. Postal Service.

1926 – Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth were forced down in Alaska after a four-day flight over an icecap. Ice had begun to form on the dirigible Norge.

1926 – The New York Rangers were officially granted a franchise in the NHL. The NHL also announced that Chicago and Detroit would be joining the league in November.

1928 – Walt Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse premiered in their first cartoon, “Plane Crazy”.

1930 – Ellen Church became the first female flight attendant, flying from San Francisco, CA to Cheyenne, WY on a United Airlines flight.

1940 – McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in San Bernardino, CA.

1940 – Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the U.S.

1941 – Joe DiMaggio began his historic major league baseball hitting streak of 56 games.

1942 – Gasoline rationing began in the United States. The limit was 3 gallons a week for nonessential vehicles.

1951 – AT&T became the first corporation to have one million stockholders.

1953 – Cubmaster Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, in Manhattan Beach, CA.

1957 – Elvis Presley inhaled a cap that was on one of his teeth. He had to be taken to a Los Angeles, CA, hospital to have it removed from his lung.

1958 – Sputnik III, the first space laboratory, was launched in the Soviet Union.

1963 – The final Mercury mission, Mercury-Atlas 9, with astronaut L. Gordon Cooper on board, was launched. He became the first American to spend more than a day in space and orbited the Earth 22 times in the Mercury spacecraft named Faith 7.

1970 – President Richard Nixon appointed Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington as America’s first two female generals.

1972 – Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot and paralyzed by Arthur Bremer in Laurel, MD, while campaigning for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

1980 – The first transcontinental balloon crossing of the United States took place.

1981 – Canadian TV’s “SCTV” debuted on NBC’s Friday late night schedule as “SCTV 90”.

1990 – Vincent Van Gogh’s “Portrait of Doctor Gachet” was sold for $82.5 million. The sale set a new world record.

1991 – President George Bush took Queen Elizabeth II to a baseball game played by the Oakland A’s and the Baltimore Orioles.

1997 – The Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off on a mission to deliver urgently needed repair equipment and a fresh American astronaut to Russia’s orbiting Mir station.

1998 – Sonny and Cher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2010 – Jessica Watson became the youngest person (at the age of 16) to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo.

2014 – The National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated in New York, NY.

2020 – The White House introduced Operation Warp Speed to accelerate vaccine development for COVID-19.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 15:

Jasper Johns – 96 years old (1930) – Painter and sculptor

Anna Maria Alberghetti – 90 years old (1936) – Italian-American actress and singer

Diane Nash – 88 years old (1938) – Civil rights movement activist

Lainie Kazan – 86 years old (1940) – Actress and singer

Don Nelson – 86 years old (1940) – Basketball player and coach

Bill Alter – 82 years old (1944) – Police officer and politician

Kathleen Sebelius – 78 years old (1948) – Politician, 44th Governor of Kansas

Frank L. Culbertson Jr. – 77 years old (1949) – Captain, pilot, and astronaut

Frank Wilczek – 75 years old (1951) – Mathematician and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate

Chazz Palminteri – 74 years old (1952) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

George Brett – 73 years old (1953) – Baseball player and coach

Diana Liverman – 72 years old (1954) – English-American geographer and academic

Dan Patrick – 70 years old (1956) – Television anchor and sportscaster

Meg Gardiner – 69 years old (1957) – American-English author and academic

Kevin Von Erich – 69 years old (1957) – Football player and wrestler

Jason Graae – 68 years old (1958) – Musical theater actor

Ruth Marcus – 68 years old (1958) – Journalist

Ron Simmons – 68 years old (1958) – Football player and wrestler

Beverly Jo Scott – 67 years old (1959) – American-Belgian singer-songwriter

Rob Bowman – 66 years old (1960) – Director and producer

Giselle Fernández – 65 years old (1961) – Mexican-American television journalist

Laura Hillenbrand – 59 years old (1967) – Journalist and author

John Smoltz – 59 years old (1967) – Baseball player and sportscaster

Emmitt Smith – 57 years old (1969) – Football player and sportscaster

Desmond Howard – 56 years old (1970) – Football player and sportscaster

Rod Smith – 56 years old (1970) – Football player

Ahmet Zappa – 52 years old (1974) – Musician and writer

Ray Lewis – 51 years old (1975) – Football player and sportscaster

Torraye Braggs – 50 years old (1976) – Basketball player

Ryan Leaf – 50 years old (1976) – Football player and coach

Tyler Walker – 50 years old (1976) – Baseball player

Amy Chow – 48 years old (1978) – Gymnast and pediatrician

David Krumholtz – 48 years old (1978) – Actor

Ryan Max Riley – 47 years old (1979) – Skier

Robert Royal – 47 years old (1979) – Football player

Josh Beckett – 46 years old (1980) – Baseball player

Jamie-Lynn Sigler – 45 years old (1981) – Actress and singer

Thomas Brown – 40 years old (1986) – Football player

David Adams – 39 years old (1987) – Baseball player

Michael Brantley – 39 years old (1987) – Baseball player

Brian Dozier – 39 years old (1987) – Baseball player

Mark Fayne – 39 years old (1987) – Ice hockey player

Susan Soonkyu Lee – 37 years old (1989) – Korean-American singer and entertainer

Chase Hudson – 24 years old (2002) – Internet celebrity, singer, actor

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 15:

National Bike to Work Day: Discover National Bike to Work Day, celebrating cycling as a healthier, eco-friendly commute that boosts fitness, saves money, and energizes the workday.
National NASCAR Day: Celebrate National NASCAR Day with thrilling stock car racing, fan events, and charitable giving that supports children’s health through the NASCAR Foundation.
National Safety Dose Day: Discover how National Safety Dose Day promotes safe prescription use, opioid awareness, proper storage, and disposal to prevent misuse, overdose, and harm.
International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day: Discover how International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day champions skin-to-skin bonding, boosting newborn health, parent confidence, and lifelong emotional connection.
National Defense Transportation Day: Discover how National Defense Transportation Day honors the vital people, systems, and logistics that keep the nation secure, supplied, and moving every day.
HG Awareness Day: HG Awareness Day highlights the realities of hyperemesis gravidarum, promoting early diagnosis, better treatment, research, and compassionate support for families.
National Endangered Species Day: Discover the importance of National Endangered Species Day, raising awareness, inspiring conservation action, and celebrating efforts to protect at-risk wildlife.
International Virtual Assistants Day: Discover the role of virtual assistants, celebrate their remote support, and explore meaningful ways to show appreciation for these essential professionals.
Bring Flowers To Someone Day: Celebrate Bring Flowers to Someone Day by learning the language of flowers and surprising someone (or yourself) with a meaningful bouquet that shows you care.
National Straw Hat Day: Celebrate National Straw Hat Day by showcasing timeless style, sun-smart fashion, and creative hat designs through picnics, parades, crafts, and photoshoots.
MPS Awareness Day: MPS Awareness Day raises understanding of mucopolysaccharidosis, supports affected families, and promotes early diagnosis, research, and improved treatments.
National Pizza Party Day: Celebrate National Pizza Party Day by sharing slices with friends, exploring fun pizza history, trying DIY dough, and discovering new favorite toppings.
TSC Global Awareness Day: Discover TSC Global Awareness Day, raising worldwide understanding of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, its signs, challenges, support, and research progress.
Asphalt Day: Celebrate Asphalt Day by exploring how asphalt supports roads, roofs, and runways, drives recycling and sustainability, and showcases innovation in infrastructure.
Shades Day: Celebrate Shades Day by wearing sunglasses, raising funds, and supporting Family Holiday Charity in giving struggling families a much-needed break.
International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day: Discover the meaning of International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day, supporting education, acceptance, and global advocacy for those with vascular birthmarks.
Peace Officers Memorial Day: Honor fallen law enforcement heroes on Peace Officers Memorial Day, reflecting on sacrifice, support for families, and community events that promote remembrance.
International Casinos Day: International Casinos Day honors casino culture, from games and live entertainment to the people behind the scenes, highlighting fun, creativity, and responsible play.
International Conscientious Objectors Day: International Conscientious Objectors Day honors those who refuse war on moral grounds, celebrating courage, peace activism, human rights, and ethical resistance.
National Chocolate Chip Day: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day by exploring the history, varieties, and fun ways to enjoy chocolate chips in cookies, desserts, and creative recipes.
National Work From Home Day: National Work From Home Day highlights flexible office culture, reduced commuting, and smarter productivity, encouraging employers and staff to embrace home working.
International Day of Families: Discover the meaning of International Day of Families, its UN roots, yearly themes, and simple ways to honor family bonds, diversity, and support worldwide.
Hats for Headway Day: Celebrate Hats for Headway Day by wearing fun hats, raising funds, and spreading awareness to support brain injury survivors and their families.
National Nylon Stocking Day: Celebrate National Nylon Stocking Day by honoring this iconic fashion staple, its empowering history, and fun, creative ways to style and enjoy nylon stockings.
Noise Action Week: Noise Action Week is an exciting event dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of noise pollution on our daily lives. This week-long initiative encourages everyone to think about the noise they create and how it affects others. It's a time for communities to come together, learn about noise reduction...
Do Lunch with Your Dog Day: It may sound a little unusual, but Do Lunch with Your Dog Day brings joy to both people and pups. The idea is simple—share a meal with your four-legged friend and take a break from the usual routine. Some folks pack a lunch and head to a park, while others...
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day: Scams don’t always come with warning signs. One click, one call, and suddenly someone’s life savings disappear. National Senior Fraud Awareness Day shines a light on these silent attacks. It calls attention to the tricks, traps, and tactics that target older adults. These schemes are clever, sneaky, and often heartbreaking...
American Craft Beer Week: Exploring diverse flavors and styles, American craft beer showcases innovation and craftsmanship, delighting enthusiasts worldwide.
Foster Care Fortnight: Foster Care Fortnight, an annual event in the UK, typically happens in the first two weeks of May. This initiative is driven by The Fostering Network, a leading charity that promotes foster care awareness and recruitment. The event raises awareness about the growing need for foster carers and their vital...
Bike to Work Week: Bike to Work Week is a special time celebrated each year across the United States. This event encourages people to ride their bikes to work or anywhere else they need to go as part of a larger movement to promote cycling and its benefits. How to Celebrate Bike to Work Week Embracing...
Learning at Work Week: Learning at Work Week is a special time dedicated to boosting learning culture within the workplace. Celebrated annually, this initiative encourages all types of organizations to engage in activities that foster learning among their teams. The goal is to make learning an integral part of working life, benefiting individual growth and...
Be Nice to Nettles Week: Be Nice to Nettles Week is a vibrant annual event that shines a spotlight on the humble nettle plant. Celebrated in mid-May, this period encourages us to appreciate the ecological and health benefits of nettles. How to Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week Here are five quirky and playful ways to dive...
Christian Aid Week: Christian Aid Week is an important time that provides urgent humanitarian relief to the less fortunate and urges long-term programs to help. It calls out the plight of the suffering, giving immediate aid. But it does more; it stands up for the rights of - and demands justice for -...
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
National Salvation Army Week: Supporting those in need, providing hope, and creating positive change—efforts that embody the essence of humanitarian assistance.
M.E. Awareness Week: M.E. Awareness Week, celebrated annually, highlights the struggles of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). The week encourages empathy for those affected and serves as a time for people to learn more about this condition. The campaign is organized by various charities, patient groups, and healthcare professionals working together to increase...
National Public Gardens Week: National Public Gardens Week shines a spotlight on the incredible beauty and significance of public gardens. Held each year in early May, it's a week-long celebration designed to highlight the vital role these gardens play in our communities. From fragrant flower displays to serene landscapes, they offer more than just...
National Hospital Week: Whether performing a small elective procedure or treating a life-threatening illness, hospitals are critical places that make a huge difference in the health of individuals, families and communities across the nation. National Hospital Week is here to celebrate and show appreciation for all of the different people who are integral...
National Hoarding Awareness Week: Hoarding can feel suffocating. It clutters not just rooms but also minds. National Hoarding Awareness Week brings this often-overlooked struggle to the forefront. Many people live with piles of objects that grow until they block doors and windows. This isn’t about mess or laziness—it’s a serious condition. This week, communities...
National Stuttering Awareness Week: National Stuttering Awareness Week focuses on understanding stuttering and supporting those who live with it. Stuttering is a speech condition that affects the flow of speaking, and it touches millions of people worldwide. This week encourages open conversations and helps break the silence around a challenge many face every day. It...
I Love My State Parks Week: The United States defines up to 10,000 different areas as state parks. State parks protect more than 14 million acres of landscape, ranging from coastal beaches to forests, sandy deserts to swampland. In addition, state parks provide local residents with opportunities for recreation, access to clean and safe green spaces...