Discover what happened on August 19 in history as transportation milestones, innovative ideas, technological breakthroughs, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on August 19 in History?
On this day, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted its first automobile race, Kalamazoo opened the nation’s first downtown pedestrian mall, and Google began selling its stock to the public.
AUGUST 19 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1848 – The New York Herald reported the discovery of gold in California.
1856 – Gail Borden received a patent for his process of condensing milk using a vacuum.
1909 – The first automobile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was held. The Indianapolis 500 would make its debut there two years later.
1934 – The first All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton, OH. Robert Turner won in a car made from wood salvaged from a saloon bar.
1940 – The first flight of the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.
1940 – The newly formed Civil Aeronautics Administration awarded honorary license #1 to Orville Wright.
1959 – Kalamazoo, MI, opened the nation’s first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall when two blocks of downtown Burdick Street were closed to automobile traffic.
1960 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5 carrying the dogs Belka and Strelka, along with mice, rats, plants and other biological specimens. Belka and Strelka became the first dogs to orbit Earth and return safely.
1964 – The Beatles arrived in the United States for their first full North American tour, which began at the Cow Palace near San Francisco, CA.
1964 – Syncom 3, the world’s first geostationary communications satellite, was launched. It later transmitted television coverage of the Tokyo Olympics across the Pacific.
1972 – NBC-TV presented “The Midnight Special” for the first time. John Denver was the first host.
1978 – A violent storm struck Lowell, MI, overturning the famous Lowell Showboat and tearing the steeple from the United Methodist Church.
1999 – Lorne Michaels received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2003 – The TV reality show “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica”, starring then spouses Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, premiered on MTV.
2004 – Regis Philbin goes into The Guinness Book of World Records for logging the most hours on television — a total of 15,188 hours. The previous record was held by Hugh Downs.
2004 – Google Inc. stock began selling on NASDAQ. The initial price was set at $85. It ended the day at $100.34 with more than 22 million shares traded.
2005 – The movie, “The 40 Year Old Virgin”, starring Steve Carell, debuted in theaters.
2010 – The last U.S. combat brigade left Iraq and crossed into Kuwait, marking the end of America’s combat mission known as Operation Iraqi Freedom.
2020 – Apple became the first U.S. company to reach a market value of $2 trillion, just two years after becoming the first to reach $1 trillion.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 19:
Thomas P. Salmon – 94 years old (1932) – Lawyer and politician, 75th Governor of Vermont
Bettina Cirone – 93 years old (1933) – Model and photographer
Debra Paget – 93 years old (1933) – Actress
Renée Richards – 92 years old (1934) – Tennis player and ophthalmologist
Bobby Richardson – 91 years old (1935) – Baseball player and coach
Diana Muldaur – 88 years old (1938) – Actress
Jill St. John – 86 years old (1940) – Model and actress
Jack Canfield – 82 years old (1944) – Author
Stew Johnson – 82 years old (1944) – Basketball player
Eddy Raven – 82 years old (1944) – Country music singer-songwriter
Charles Bolden – 80 years old (1946) – General and astronaut
Bill Clinton – 80 years old (1946) – Lawyer and politician, 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas , 42nd President of the United States
Gerald McRaney – 79 years old (1947) – Actor
Gerard Schwarz – 79 years old (1947) – Conductor and director
Tipper Gore – 78 years old (1948) – Activist and author, former Second Lady of the United States
Jonathan Frakes – 74 years old (1952) – Actor and director
Peter Gallagher – 71 years old (1955) – Actor
Ned Yost – 71 years old (1955) – Baseball player and manager
Adam Arkin – 70 years old (1956) – Actor, director, and producer
Gary Chapman – 69 years old (1957) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Martin Donovan – 69 years old (1957) – Actor and director
Gary Gaetti – 68 years old (1958) – Baseball player, coach, and manager
Anthony Muñoz – 68 years old (1958) – Football player and sportscaster
Rick Snyder – 68 years old (1958) – Politician and businessman, 48th Governor of Michigan
Ivan Neville – 67 years old (1959) – Singer-songwriter
Ricky Pierce – 67 years old (1959) – Basketball player
Morten Andersen – 66 years old (1960) – Danish-American football player
Ron Darling – 66 years old (1960) – Baseball player and commentator
John Stamos – 63 years old (1963) – Actor
Kevin Dillon – 61 years old (1965) – Actor
Kyra Sedgwick – 61 years old (1965) – Actress and producer
Lee Ann Womack – 60 years old (1966) – Singer-songwriter
Satya Nadella – 59 years old (1967) – Indian-American business executive, chairman and CEO of Microsoft
Douglas Allen Tunstall Jr. – 57 years old (1969) – Professional wrestler and politician
Clay Walker – 57 years old (1969) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Fat Joe – 56 years old (1970) – Rapper
Mary Joe Fernández – 55 years old (1971) – Dominican-American tennis player and coach
Roy Rogers – 53 years old (1973) – Basketball player and coach
Tracie Thoms – 51 years old (1975) – Actress
Chris Capuano – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player
Thomas Jones – 48 years old (1978) – Football player
Michael Todd – 46 years old (1980) – Bass player
Percy Watson – 45 years old (1981) – Football player and wrestler
Erika Christensen – 44 years old (1982) – Actress
Melissa Fumero – 44 years old (1982) – Actress
J. J. Hardy – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Stipe Miocic – 44 years old (1982) – Professional mixed martial artist
Lindsey Jacobellis – 41 years old (1985) – Snowboarder
Christina Perri – 40 years old (1986) – Singer and songwriter
Patrick Chung – 39 years old (1987) – Jamaican-American football player
Kirk Cousins – 38 years old (1988) – Football player
Veronica Roth – 38 years old (1988) – Author
Romeo Miller – 37 years old (1989) – Basketball player, rapper, actor
Ethan Cutkosky – 27 years old (1999) – Actor and musician
Keegan Murray – 26 years old (2000) – Basketball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR AUGUST 19:
- World Photography Day: A beautiful way to tell a story, express emotions, and preserve the beauty of the world around us. Start capturing your own story today!
- National Aviation Day: Celebrate flight pioneer Orville Wright’s birthday on National Aviation Day by learning about the history of flight, making paper airplanes, or learning to fly yourself.
- National Potato Day: Hashbrowns, French fries, potato chips, baked or mashed potatoes…honor one of the most versatile and tasty tubers, the potato, by incorporating it into every dish.
- International Orangutan Day: Learn and raise awareness about the smart, beautiful, but endangered primates known as orangutans. Visit your local zoo to see these creatures in person.
- Talk Like Jar Jar Binks Day: Engage in playful speech, bringing joy and amusement, by echoing the unique linguistic flair of an iconic Star Wars character.
- National Soft Ice Cream Day: Hot summer days are the best time to enjoy a cone filled with soft serve ice cream – and National Soft Ice Cream Day is perfectly timed for this celebration! History of National Soft Ice Cream Day Ice cream came into use centuries ago and was originally a luxurious dish...
- International Bow Day: Put a bow in your hair, wear a bowtie, and tie bows around anything and everything to spruce up and make your self and surroundings more festive.
- Bullying No Way Week: Bullying No Way Week unites Australian schools, students, and families in tackling bullying together. This annual event urges young people to recognize bullying, understand its effects, and learn how to act against it. How to Observe Bullying No Way Week Here are some creative ways to observe Bullying No Way Week. These...
- National Finance Brokers Day: Guiding individuals on the path to financial prosperity, these professionals offer expert advice, empowering clients to achieve their goals.
- World Humanitarian Day: Donate, raise awareness, and volunteer your time to help humanitarian efforts around the world and aid the poor and needy in every country, even your own.
- Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
- National Aviation Week: National Aviation Week is a time to look up and celebrate the sky's vastness and the marvels that allow us to explore it. This special week highlights the incredible journey of human flight, from the Wright brothers' first successful airplane to today’s sophisticated aircraft. It's a chance to reflect on...
- Navasard: Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, a celebration that once united communities in festivities and tribute to their gods. Marking the start of a new cycle, it was a time when people believed divine forces came down to the Earth. With music, dance, and communal feasts, it reflected a...
Powered by Days Of The Year
For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
