July 22 in History: Wiley Post Flies Around the World, The Pentagon Is Unveiled, and the Century’s Longest Solar Eclipse Occurs

Scott Winters July 22, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on July 22 in history as remarkable achievements, historic milestones, technological advances, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on July 22 in History?

Important events on this day include Wiley Post completing the first solo flight around the world, plans for the Pentagon being unveiled, John Dillinger being fatally shot outside Chicago’s Biograph Theater, and the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century crossing parts of Asia and the Pacific.

JULY 22 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1376 – The date that the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin leading rats out of town is said to have occurred.

1796 – Surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company named an Ohio settlement “Cleaveland” after General Moses Cleaveland. The name was later shortened to “Cleveland.”

1893 – Katharine Lee Bates wrote “America the Beautiful” after admiring the view from the top of Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs, CO.

1926 – Babe Ruth caught a baseball at Mitchell Field in New York, NY. The ball had been dropped from an airplane flying at 250 feet above the ball park.

1933 – Pilot Wiley Post completed the first solo global airplane flight. He had traveled 15,596 miles in 7 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes.

1934 – Outside of the Biograph Theater in Chicago, IL, “Public Enemy No. 1” John Dillinger was mortally wounded by FBI agents.

1941 – Plans for the Pentagon were presented to the House Subcommittee on Appropriations.

1942 – The U.S. government began compulsory civilian gasoline rationing due to the wartime demands.

1962 – NASA’s Mariner 1 spacecraft veered off course shortly after launch and was destroyed for safety, earning the nickname “the most expensive hyphen in history” because of a coding error in its guidance system.

1983 – The movie “Mr. Mom”, starring Michael Keaton and Teri Garr, premiered in theaters.

1991 – Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee, WI after police discovered human remains in his apartment.

1994 – O.J. Simpson pleaded not guilty to the slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

1996 – The Comedy Central late night talk show, “The Daily Show”, debuted with its original host Craig Kilborn.

1997 – The second Blue Water Bridge opened between Port Huron, MI and Sarnia, Canada.

2000 – Astronomers at the University of Arizona announced that they had found a 17th moon orbiting Jupiter.

2003 – Sadaam Hussein’s sons Uday and Qusay Hussein were killed by U.S. troops inside a Mosul palace.

2003 – The movie “Seabiscuit”, starring Toby Maquire, was released in theaters.

2003 – U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch, a prisoner of war who was rescued from an Iraqi hospital, received a hero’s welcome when the 19 year old returned to her hometown of Palestine, WV. She had been captured by Iraqi forces in March of 2003.

2003 – In Paris, France, a fire broke out near the top of the Eiffel Tower. About 4,000 visitors were evacuated. No injuries were reported.

2005 – The movie “March of the Penguins” premiered in theaters.

2009 – The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds, occurred over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

2013 – Prince George, the first child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, was born.

2016 – Japan’s Funai Electric announced it was manufacturing the world’s last videocassette.

2019 – Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame became the highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing Avatar with worldwide box office earnings of nearly $2.8 billion.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 22:

Geraldine Claudette Darden – 90 years old (1936) – Mathematician

Judith Walzer Leavitt – 86 years old (1940) – Historian and academic

George Clinton – 85 years old (1941) – Singer-songwriter and producer

David M. Kennedy – 85 years old (1941) – Historian and author

Kay Bailey Hutchison – 83 years old (1943) – Lawyer and politician

Sparky Lyle – 82 years old (1944) – Baseball player and manager

Danny Glover – 80 years old (1946) – Actor, director, and producer

Paul Schrader – 80 years old (1946) – Director and screenwriter

Albert Brooks – 79 years old (1947) – Actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter

Don Henley – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter and drummer

S. E. Hinton – 78 years old (1948) – Author

Alan Menken – 77 years old (1949) – Pianist and composer

Ann Godoff – 77 years old (1949) – Book editor, publisher and founder of Penguin Press

Richard Bennett – 75 years old (1951) – Guitarist and producer

Al Di Meola – 72 years old (1954) – Guitarist, songwriter, and producer

Lonette McKee – 72 years old (1954) – Actress and singer

Willem Dafoe – 71 years old (1955) – Actor

Dave Stieb – 69 years old (1957) – Baseball player

Jon Oliva – 66 years old (1960) – Singer-songwriter and keyboard player

John Leguizamo – 66 years old (1960) – Colombian-American actor, producer, and screenwriter

Keith Sweat – 65 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Alvin Robertson – 64 years old (1962) – Basketball player

Emily Saliers – 63 years old (1963) – Singer-songwriter and musician

Will Calhoun – 62 years old (1964) – Drummer

David Spade – 62 years old (1964) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter

Shawn Michaels – 61 years old (1965) – Wrestler, trainer, and actor

Doug Riesenberg – 61 years old (1965) – Football player and coach

Tim Brown – 60 years old (1966) – Football player and manager

Rebecca Kiessling – 57 years old (1969) – Attorney and anti-abortion activist

Jason Becker – 56 years old (1970) – Guitarist and songwriter

Keyshawn Johnson – 54 years old (1972) – Football player and sportscaster

Brian Chippendale – 53 years old (1973) – Singer and drummer

Mike Sweeney – 53 years old (1973) – Baseball player and sportscaster

Rufus Wainwright – 53 years old (1973) – American-Canadian singer-songwriter

Steven Jackson – 43 years old (1983) – Football player

Takudzwa Ngwenya – 41 years old (1985) – Zimbabwean-American rugby player

Stevie Johnson – 40 years old (1986) – Football player

George Santos – 38 years old (1988) – Politician

Keegan Allen – 37 years old (1989) – Actor, photographer and musician

Taylor Lewan – 35 years old (1991) – Football player

Selena Gomez – 34 years old (1992) – Singer and actress

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev – 33 years old (1993) – Kyrgyzstani-American terrorist

Ezekiel Elliott – 31 years old (1995) – Football player

Jonathan Owens – 31 years old (1995) – Football player

Skyler Gisondo – 30 years old (1996) – Actor

Larray – 28 years old (1998) – YouTuber

Madison Pettis – 28 years old (1998) – Actress

Jason Robertson – 27 years old (1999) – Ice hockey player

Garrett Wilson – 26 years old (2000) – Football player

Javon Walton – 20 years old (2006) – Actor and boxer

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 22:

National Mango Day: Head to a farmer’s market or grocery store and find a mango that’s just a bit soft, but not too squishy. Great in smoothies, or sliced up on its own.
National Hammock Day: Relaxation suspended in mid-air. Perfect for daydreaming and reading, while listening to the rustling of leaves and feeling a cool breeze.
National Penuche Fudge Day: Based on brown sugar rather than its more common cousin, penuche tastes a bit like caramel and makes the best flavor for a rich piece of decadent fudge.
World Brain Day: Keeping a mind sharp, embracing new challenges, and nourishing mental well-being can lead to a brighter and more fulfilling life.
Fragile X Awareness Day: Raise understanding for a genetic condition, unraveling complexities with compassion, fostering support for those impacted by it.
National Rat Catcher’s Day: Enchanting melodies, luring shadows, captivating an entire town with a mysterious musical tale and whimsical charm.
National Be a Good Teammate Day: Collaborating seamlessly, supporting each other's strengths, creating a harmonious environment, fostering unity and success within a team.
Tisha B’Av: Tisha B'Av is a deeply meaningful day for many people. It marks a time of reflection and mourning, where communities come together to remember significant losses. The day offers a moment to pause and consider the impact of historical events on the present. Many find comfort in gathering to share...
Pi Approximation Day: Pi Approximation Day marks a fun twist on celebrating the famous number π. People take note of the special fraction 22/7, which gives a close estimate to pi’s value, about 3.1429—good enough for many everyday uses. Fans gather around its simplicity, finding joy in how a simple fraction ties to...
Spoonerism Day: Playing with language, switching sounds, and creating hilarious twists, these linguistic acrobatics add a dash of fun to everyday conversations.
National Zoo Keeper Week: Dedicated professionals caring for exotic animals, ensuring their well-being, educating the public, and contributing to conservation efforts.
National Moth Week: Sign up for an event or citizen project during Moth Week to get involved, take and post photos, and get a good look at the interesting varieties of moths out there.
National Parenting Gifted Children Week: The unique joys and challenges of nurturing exceptional talents, fostering creativity, and supporting their emotional growth.