July 2 in History: America Votes for Independence, Walmart Opens, and the Roswell Mystery Begins

Scott Winters July 2, 2026 2 Comments

Discover what happened on July 2 in history, featuring pivotal moments in American independence, major business milestones, technological innovation, aviation history, and unforgettable pop culture events.

What Happened on July 2 in History?

Important events on this day include Congress voting for American independence from Great Britain, the opening of the very first Walmart store, the mysterious Roswell crash in New Mexico, and President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

JULY 2 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1698 – Thomas Savery patented the first steam engine.

1850 – Benjamin Lane patented a gas mask with a breathing apparatus.

1776 – The Continental Congress adopted a resolution that severed ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain. The wording of the formal Declaration of Independence was not published until July 4th.

1857 – New York, NY’s first elevated railroad officially opened for business.

1881 – Charles J. Guiteau fatally wounded President James A. Garfield in Washington, DC. Garfield eventually died from an infection on September 19th.

1890 – Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act.

1900 – Lord Zeppelin demonstrated the first blimp-like airship

1901 – The real-life Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid robbed a train of $40,000 near Wagner, MT.

1926 – Congress established the Army Air Corps.

1937 – American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in the Central Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world at the equator.

1939 – At Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt’s face was dedicated.

1947 – An object crashed near Roswell, NM. The U.S. Army Air Force insisted it was a weather balloon, but eyewitness accounts led to speculation that it might have been an alien spacecraft.

1955 – ABC Television premiered “The Lawrence Welk Show.”

1959 – The movie “Plan 9 From Outer Space”, by director Ed Wood, premiered.

1962 – Wal-Mart Discount City opened in Rogers, AR. It was the first Walmart store.

1964 – President Lyndon Johnson signed the “Civil Rights Act of 1964” into law. The act made it illegal in the U.S. to discriminate against others because of their race.

1972 – The Michigan State Lottery was established.

1972 – After 3,242 performances on Broadway, “Fiddler on the Roof” closed.

1976 – The Supreme Court ruled the death penalty was not inherently cruel or unusual punishment.

1979 – The U.S. Mint officially released the Susan B. Anthony coin in Rochester, NY. It was the first U.S. coin to honor a woman.

1980 – President Jimmy Carter reinstated draft registration for males 18 years of age.

1980 – The movie spoof “Airplane!” opened in theaters.

1982 – In San Pedro, CA, Larry Walters (“Lawnchair Larry”) took flight in his homemade airship that consisted of a lawnchair with 42 helium-filled weather balloons attached to it. He reached an altitude of 16,000 feet and stayed in flight for about an hour.

1985 – General Motors announced that it was installing electronic road maps as an option in some of its higher-priced cars. The system used a dashboard computer and maps stored on cassette tapes. Very few were interested in the product.

1991 – Axl Rose (Guns ‘n’ Roses) sparked a riot during a concert, outside of St. Louis, MO, when he jumped off the stage and attacked a fan who was videotaping the concert. 60 people were hurt.

1995 – “Forbes” magazine reported that Microsoft’s chairman, Bill Gates, was the worth $12.9 billion, making him the world’s richest man.

1996 – The movie “Independence Day”, starring Will Smith, debuted in theaters.

1997 – Tornadoes and funnel clouds appeared in Michigan from Grand Rapids to Lansing and metro Detroit. It was the deadliest storm to hit Michigan since 1965.

1997 – The movie “Men in Black”, starry Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, opened in theaters.

2001 – The AbioCor self-contained artificial heart was first implanted.

2002 – Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo around the world non-stop in a balloon.

2005 – The Live 8 concerts took place in London, Rome, Berlin, Tokyo, Philadelphia and Barrie, Canada. The largest global concert event in history attracted approximately two million people who saw performances by Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Green Day, U2, Coldplay, The Killers, Linkin Park, Destiny’s Child and many more. More than 1,000 musicians performed and were broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks.

2013 – The International Astronomical Union named Pluto’s fourth and fifth moons, Kerberos and Styx.

2014 – In Grand Rapids, MI, Mötley Crüe began their final tour.

2015 – BP agreed to compensate the U.S. government and gulf states $18.7 billion for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

2018 – British divers discovered 12 boys and their coach still alive in a cave in Thailand. They had been trapped for nine days by monsoon flooding.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 2:

Gilbert Kalish – 91 years old (1935) – Pianist and educator

Richard Petty – 89 years old (1937) – Race car driver and sportscaster

John H. Sununu – 87 years old (1939) – Engineer and politician, 14th White House Chief of Staff

Richard Axel – 80 years old (1946) – Neuroscientist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate

Larry David – 79 years old (1947) – Actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter

Greg Brown – 77 years old (1949) – Musician

Roy Bittan – 77 years old (1949) – Rock piano and accordion player (E Street Band)

Wendy Schaal – 72 years old (1954) – Actress

Jerry Hall – 70 years old (1956) – Model and actress

Purvis Short – 69 years old (1957) – Basketball player

Clark Kellogg – 65 years old (1961) – Basketball player and sportscaster

Jose Canseco – 62 years old (1964) – Cuban-American baseball player and mixed martial artist

Ozzie Canseco – 62 years old (1964) – Cuban-American baseball player, coach, and manager

Joe Magrane – 62 years old (1964) – Baseball player and sportscaster

Derrick Adkins – 56 years old (1970) – Hurdler

Troy Brown – 55 years old (1971) – Football player and actor

Sean Casey – 52 years old (1974) – Baseball player and sportscaster

Elizabeth Reaser – 51 years old (1975) – Actress

Tomáš Vokoun – 50 years old (1976) – Czech-American ice hockey player

Walter Davis – 47 years old (1979) – Triple jumper

Sam Hornish Jr. – 47 years old (1979) – Race car driver

Nyjer Morgan – 46 years old (1980) – Baseball player

Carlos Rogers – 45 years old (1981) – Football player

Michelle Branch – 43 years old (1983) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Elise Stefanik – 42 years old (1984) – Politician

Johnny Weir – 42 years old (1984) – Figure skater

Chad Henne – 41 years old (1985) – Football player

Ashley Tisdale – 41 years old (1985) – Actress, singer, and producer

Brett Cecil – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Lindsay Lohan – 40 years old (1986) – Actress and singer

Alex Morgan – 37 years old (1989) – Soccer player

Kayla Harrison – 36 years old (1990) – Judoka

Merritt Mathias – 36 years old (1990) – Soccer player

Madison Chock – 34 years old (1992) – Ice dancer

Vince Staples – 33 years old (1993) – Rapper and actor

Saweetie – 33 years old (1993) – Rapper

Derrick White – 32 years old (1994) – Basketball player

Ryan Murphy – 31 years old (1995) – Swimmer

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 2:

Palio Horse Race in Siena: The Palio Horse Race in Siena is a thrilling event that draws crowds from around the world. The city's main square transforms into a vibrant, bustling arena where ten jockeys fiercely compete, each representing a different city district or Contrada. The energy in the air is electric as the horses...
National Anisette Day: The sweeter cousin of Absinthe, Anisette is a uniquely flavored drink made from distilled aniseed. Try making a few different cocktails to get the flavor just right.
Made In The USA Day: Exploring quality, supporting local craftsmanship, and embracing American-made excellence for a sustainable and authentic shopping experience.
World UFO Day: Gather with other UFO enthusiasts to swap stories and watch the night skies, or fire up a classic like First Encounters of the Third Kind or The X-Files.
World Tutors’ Day: Experts guiding learners, enhancing understanding, and igniting curiosity to excel academically and unlock their full potential in education.
National I Forgot Day: How many times have you forgotten a friend’s birthday or your anniversary? If this sounds familiar, I Forgot Day is here for you. This day is a lighthearted acknowledgment of our occasional slips and provides a perfect opportunity to make amends. Whether it's missed appointments or overlooked special dates, I Forgot...
Thirsty Thursday: The anticipation of midweek merriment, with friends and everyone's favorite beverages, is like a mini-vacation for the soul.
Special Recreation for the Disabled Day: Enabling inclusive play, breaking barriers for diverse abilities, promoting unity through adaptive sports and recreation programs.
National Synesthesia Awareness Day: Exploring the rich tapestry of senses intertwining, understanding the unique perception of the world through Synesthesia.
National Wildland Firefighter Day: Fearless individuals battling nature's fiery tantrums, their bravery etched in the scorched landscapes they protect and preserve.
National Report Military Fraud Day: National Report Military Fraud Day shines a spotlight on a serious issue: military fraud. This day is vital for raising awareness and encouraging the public to come forward with any information on fraudulent activities within the military. By reporting these crimes, individuals play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and...
World Sports Journalists Day: Sports journalists do more than just share results—they shape the way we see the game. World Sports Journalists Day celebrates the people who turn fast-paced matches and quiet moments into stories that stick with us. They sit in press boxes, chase interviews, and write through late nights, all to bring...
National Disco Day: National Disco Day celebrates the pulse and beat of disco music. It honors the genre’s lively grooves and brings people together. Music lovers and dancers mark this day by spinning songs that once filled dance floors. The mood feels upbeat and fun. It embraces style, movement, and unity in one...
Freedom From Fear of Speaking Day: Freedom From Fear of Speaking Day is all about helping people break free from the worry that holds them back when they speak in public. Many experience sweaty palms, shaky voices, or fast heartbeats when they face even a small crowd. The day calls on everyone to speak up—even if they...
Wildland Firefighter Week Of Remembrance: Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance honors those who lost their lives while battling wildfires. These firefighters walked straight into danger, knowing what was at stake. Their job wasn’t quiet or easy. They faced smoke, heat, and fast-changing flames. It’s hard to think about what they saw or felt in those...
Sweetness Week: Sweetness Week is an annual celebration that brings a special kind of joy to Argentina. During this time, people exchange kisses and sweet treats, turning it into a playful and romantic affair. How to Celebrate Sweetness Week Sweetness Week is a playful chance to spread joy and sugar. Here are some...