Discover what happened on June 29 in history, featuring innovations in transportation, technology, television, sports, and major milestones that helped shape the modern world.
What Happened on June 29 in History?
Important events on this day include the authorization of the U.S. Interstate Highway System, the invention of the television remote control, Steve Wozniak testing the first Apple I computer, and Apple releasing the first iPhone.
JUNE 29 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1804 – Privates John Collins and Hugh Hall, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, were found guilty by a court-martial consisting of members of the Corps of Discovery for getting drunk on duty. Collins received 100 lashes on his back and Hall received 50.
1860 – The first iron-pile lighthouse was completed at Minot’s Ledge, MA.
1888 – Professor Frederick Treves performed the first appendectomy in England.
1889 – Hyde Park and several other Illinois townships voted to be annexed by Chicago, forming the largest U.S. city in area and second largest in population.
1897 – The Chicago Cubs scored 36 runs in a game against Louisville, setting a record for runs scored by a team in a single game.
1925 – Marvin Pipkin filed for a patent for the frosted electric light bulb.
1927 – “The Bird of Paradise”, a U.S. Army Air Corps Fokker tri-motor, completed the first transpacific flight, from the mainland United States to Hawaii.
1941 – Joe DiMaggio got a base hit in his 42nd consecutive game. He broke George Sisler’s record from 1922.
1953 – The Federal Highway Act authorized the construction of 42,500 miles of interstate highway from coast to coast.
1964 – The TV remote control was invented.
1969 – Jim Northup, of the Detroit Tigers, hit his third grand slam in seven days, a Major League first.
1972 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty could constitute “cruel and unusual punishment”. The ruling prompted states to revise their capital punishment laws.
1975 – Steve Wozniak tested his first prototype of the Apple I computer.
1986 – Virgin Records founder Richard Branson established a world speed record for crossing the Atlantic by boat.
1987 – Vincent Van Gogh’s “Le Pont de Trinquetaille” was bought for $20.4 million at an auction in London, England.
1988 – The movie “Coming To America”, starring Eddie Murphy, premiered in theaters.
1995 – George Foreman was stripped of his IBF heavyweight title for refusing a rematch with German boxer Axel Schulz.
1995 – The Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir docked, forming the largest artificial satellite ever to orbit the Earth.
1996 – Superman Action Comics #1 sold for $61,900 at auction in New York, NY.
1998 – LMN, the Lifetime Movie Network, debuted.
1998 – Katie Couric of TV’s “Today” Show signed a four-year contract that put her in the same salary league as Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather — a reported $7 million annually.
1998 – With negotiations on a new labor agreement at a standstill, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that a lockout would be imposed at midnight.
2000 – In Santa Rosa, CA, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place for the Charles M. Schulz Museum.
2005 – The Steven Spielberg adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel, “The War of the Worlds”, debuted in theaters.
2007 – The first generation Apple iPhone went on sale for $500.
2007 – The Pixar animated movie “Ratatouille” premiered in theaters.
2009 – In Grand Rapids, MI, Oldies 98.7 WFGR flipped to Classic Hits 98.7 WFGR at 9:00 am.
2011 – The state of Nevada passed the first law that permitted the operation of autonomous cars on public roads. The law went into effect on March 1, 2012 and did not permit the use of the cars to the general public. Google received the first self-driving vehicle license in the U.S. on May 4, 2012 in Nevada.
2012 – The movie “Magic Mike”, starring Channing Tatum, premiered in theaters. The movie made $167 million and only cost $7 million to make.
2012 – The movie “Ted”, starring Mark Wahlberg, premiered in theaters.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JUNE 29:
John Boccabella – 85 years old (1941) – Baseball player
Gary Busey – 82 years old (1944) – Actor
Seán Patrick O'Malley – 82 years old (1944) – Cardinal
Fred Grandy – 78 years old (1948) – Actor and politician
Dan Dierdorf – 77 years old (1949) – Football player and sportscaster
Ann Veneman – 77 years old (1949) – Lawyer and politician, 27th United States Secretary of Agriculture
Bobby London – 76 years old (1950) – Illustrator
Don Moen – 76 years old (1950) – Singer and songwriter
Michael Whelan – 76 years old (1950) – Artist
Don Dokken – 73 years old (1953) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Rick Honeycutt – 72 years old (1954) – Baseball player and coach
Charles J. Precourt – 71 years old (1955) – Colonel, pilot, and astronaut
David Burroughs Mattingly – 70 years old (1956) – Illustrator and painter
Michael Nutter – 69 years old (1957) – Politician, 98th Mayor of Philadelphia
Sharon Lawrence – 65 years old (1961) – Actress, singer, and dancer
George D. Zamka – 64 years old (1962) – Colonel, pilot, and astronaut
Judith Hoag – 63 years old (1963) – Actress and educator
Kathleen Wilhoite – 62 years old (1964) – Actress and musician
Tripp Eisen – 61 years old (1965) – Guitarist
Daniel Larson – 61 years old (1965) – Politician
Jeff Burton – 59 years old (1967) – Race car driver
Melora Hardin – 59 years old (1967) – Actress and singer
Brian d'Arcy James – 58 years old (1968) – Actor and musician
Emily Skinner – 56 years old (1970) – Actress and singer
DJ Shadow – 54 years old (1972) – DJ and record producer
Lance Barber – 53 years old (1973) – Actor
George Hincapie – 53 years old (1973) – Cyclist
Sam Farrar – 48 years old (1978) – Musician
Nicole Scherzinger – 48 years old (1978) – Singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress
Joe Johnson – 45 years old (1981) – Basketball player
Shmuly Yanklowitz – 45 years old (1981) – Rabbi, author, and educator
Colin Jost – 44 years old (1982) – Comedian
Dusty Hughes – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Lily Rabe – 44 years old (1982) – Actress
O. J. Hogans – 44 years old (1982) – Sprinter
Aundrea Fimbres – 43 years old (1983) – Singer-songwriter and dancer
Jeremy Powers – 43 years old (1983) – Cyclist
Quintin Demps – 41 years old (1985) – Football player
Kawhi Leonard – 35 years old (1991) – Basketball player
Addison Timlin – 35 years old (1991) – Actress
Camila Mendes – 32 years old (1994) – Actress and model
Michael Porter Jr. – 28 years old (1998) – Basketball player
Julian Champagnie – 25 years old (2001) – Basketball player
Gunnar Henderson – 25 years old (2001) – Baseball player
Sam Lavagnino – 20 years old (2006) – Child voice actor
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JUNE 29:
- International Mud Day: Participate in a Mud Run, join or watch some Mud Wrestling, or just get out in the dirt with friends or family and let loose by getting messy and having fun.
- National Waffle Iron Day: Splurge on a fun waffle iron like a Mickey Mouse shaped one, or dig out that iron from the back of your cabinet and enjoy one of the greatest breakfast treats.
- World Industrial Design Day: Attend an industrial design expo, sign up for a class, and learn about the many exciting career opportunities for these innovative visionaries.
- Hug Holiday: Looking for an excuse to get or give a hug? Well, look no further than Hug Holiday! This day is an invitation to recognize how meaningful a simple hug can be when it is welcome, respectful, and shared with care. It is an opportunity to show affection to family members, friends...
- National Almond Buttercrunch Day: Butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, almonds, and chocolate chips: that’s all it takes to make the crunchy or chewy treat known as almond buttercrunch.
- International Fisherman Day: International Fisherman Day honors people who make a living from the water, often starting work while most of the world is still asleep. It is a day for appreciating the skill, stamina, and steady nerves it takes to harvest seafood in conditions that can swing from calm to chaotic in...
- National Camera Day: Dust off an old digital camera, buy a disposable camera, or just fire up your smartphone and snap some pictures of your day to keep those memories forever.
- National Dieselbilly Day: Celebrate National Dieselbilly Day by honoring Bill Kirchen’s gritty twang, trucker tunes, and rootsy road music with playlists, jam sessions, and tributes.
- Please Take My Children to Work Day: Cousin to “Take Your Kids to Work Day”, PLEASE Take My Kids to Work Day is all about giving hard-working stay-at-home moms and dads a day off.
- St Peter’s Day: St. Peter’s Day celebrates the life and mission of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers and the first leader of the Church. Many Christians around the world mark this day with special worship services to honor his courage, dedication, and role in guiding the early Church. People remember his transformation from...
- International Day of the Tropics: International Day of the Tropics highlights the beauty and challenges of the world’s most vibrant region. The tropics stretch across the planet, home to most of its biodiversity and a vast range of unique ecosystems. Sunlight floods this region year-round, fueling rich plant and animal life while shaping traditions that...
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