Today in History graphic for July 26 featuring Benjamin Franklin, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Solar Impulse 2, and Grand Rapids' hydroelectric lights.

July 26 in History: Benjamin Franklin Becomes Postmaster General, the ADA Is Signed, and Solar Impulse 2 Circles the Globe

Scott Winters July 26, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on July 26 in history as remarkable achievements, historic milestones, technological advances, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on July 26 in History?

Important events on this day include Benjamin Franklin becoming America’s first Postmaster General, President George H.W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, Solar Impulse 2 completing the first solar-powered flight around the world, and Grand Rapids becoming the first U.S. city to generate electricity for street lighting using water power.

JULY 26 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1775 – Benjamin Franklin became the first Postmaster General when a postal system was established by the 2nd Continental Congress of the United States.

1788 – New York became the 11th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

1880 – Grand Rapids became the first U.S. city to generate electricity with water power for commercial street lighting.

1881 – Thomas Edison and Patrick Kenny applied for a patent for a facsimile telegraph.

1883 – The largest log jam in the nation threatened Grand Rapids, MI. Heavy rains caused the Grand River to rise nearly 20 inches. Lumberman used the high water to help bring their logs down river. The logs broke loose and 150 million board feet of timber came roaring down the river. It was one of the largest log jams in history, Logs piled up 30 feet deep and stretched nearly seven miles along the river. Two railroad bridges at Fulton and Wealthy Street were destroyed by the pressure of the jam.

1947 – President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act, creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency.

1948 – Babe Ruth was seen by the public for the last time. He was attending the New York City premiere of the motion picture, “The Babe Ruth Story”.

1951 – Walt Disney’s 13th animated film, “Alice in Wonderland”, premiered in London, England.

1958 – Explorer 4 was launched.

1971 – Nicolette Milnes-Walker completed sailing non-stop single-handedly across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman to successfully do so.

1971 – Apollo 15 was launched for its journey to the Moon. It was the first Apollo “J-Mission” and the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV).

1984 – “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” became the first network television program to be telecast in stereo.

1985 – The movie “National Lampoon’s European Vacation”, starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, premiered in theaters.

1989 – A federal grand jury indicted Cornell University student Robert T. Morris, Jr. for releasing the Morris worm, thus becoming the first person to be prosecuted under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

1990 – President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1996 – The bowling movie “Kingpin”, starring Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid, premiered in theaters.

1999 – 1,500 pieces of Marilyn Monroe’s personal items went on display at Christie’s in New York, NY.

2005 – The STS-114 Mission – Launch of Discovery, was NASA’s first scheduled flight mission after the Columbia disaster in 2003.

2016 – Hillary Clinton became the first woman nominated as the Democratic Presidential candidate.

2016 – Solar Impulse 2 became the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 26:

Robert Colbert – 95 years old (1931) – Actor

Bob Lilly – 87 years old (1939) – Football player and photographer

Darlene Love – 85 years old (1941) – Singer and actress

Peter Hyams – 83 years old (1943) – Director, screenwriter, and cinematographer

Robert Phillips – 73 years old (1953) – Guitarist

Earl Tatum – 73 years old (1953) – Professional basketball player

Dorothy Hamill – 70 years old (1956) – Figure skater

Tommy Rich – 70 years old (1956) – Wrestler

Nana Visitor – 69 years old (1957) – Actress

Rick Bragg – 67 years old (1959) – Author and journalist

Kevin Spacey – 67 years old (1959) – Actor and director

Gary Cherone – 65 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter

Sandra Bullock – 62 years old (1964) – Actress and producer

Danny Woodburn – 62 years old (1964) – Actor and comedian

Jeremy Piven – 61 years old (1965) – Actor and producer

Jim Lindberg – 61 years old (1965) – Singer and guitarist

Tim Schafer – 59 years old (1967) – Video game designer, founded Double Fine Productions

Greg Colbrunn – 57 years old (1969) – Baseball player and coach

Joan Wasser – 56 years old (1970) – Rock violinist, guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer (Joan As Police Woman)

Chris Harrison – 55 years old (1971) – Television personality

Iron & Wine – 52 years old (1974) – Singer-songwriter

Joe Smith – 51 years old (1975) – Basketball player

Erik Westrum – 47 years old (1979) – Ice hockey player

Robert Gallery – 46 years old (1980) – Football player

Kelly Clark – 43 years old (1983) – Snowboarder

Roderick Strong – 43 years old (1983) – Wrestler

Delonte West – 43 years old (1983) – Basketball player

Marcus Benard – 41 years old (1985) – Football player

Mat Gamel – 41 years old (1985) – Baseball player

Monica Raymund – 40 years old (1986) – Actress

Alec Martinez – 39 years old (1987) – Ice hockey player

Anthony Smith – 38 years old (1988) – Mixed Martial Artist

Bianca Santos – 36 years old (1990) – Actress

Taylor Momsen – 33 years old (1993) – Singer-songwriter, model, and actress

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 26:

National Tree Day: National Tree Day is a vibrant celebration dedicated to the importance of trees in our lives. It's a day when people come together to appreciate the beauty and benefits of trees. This event encourages everyone to plant trees and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re in a city park or your...
National Dog Photography Day: Capturing canine charisma through the lens, photography transforms ordinary moments into timeless portraits, celebrating the essence of dogs.
National BagelFest Day: Circular delights, golden-brown, with a chewy embrace—a dance of textures in every bite, breakfast perfection encapsulated.
National All or Nothing Day: If it was your last day on Earth, what would you do? Dive into your goals and dreams and be willing to take some risks in order to reap the potential rewards.
National Aunt and Uncle Day: Get a small gift, write a letter, put together a photo collage or plan a fun get-together to let your Aunts and Uncles know you love and appreciate them.
Holistic Therapy Day: Talk to a physician about Holistic Therapy, a method of therapy that involves treating the mind, body, and spirit all at the same time, not separately.
Auntie’s Day: Oooh, aunties! They're like a special blend of a second mom and a best friend rolled into one. Always ready with a warm hug or a funny story, aunties seem to know just when to swoop in with a batch of your favorite cookies or some sage advice. They just...
National Disability Independence Day: Empowering autonomy, embracing unique abilities, and fostering inclusivity create a world where independence flourishes beyond limitations.
National Coffee Milkshake Day: On a scorching summer day, a blend of your favorite brew and chilly creaminess collides, creating an icy pick-me-up that's pure bliss.
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly: The wise souls who bring family tales to life with stories of the past, offering warmth and wisdom through the ages.
Esperanto Day: Esperanto is a language created to make global communication easier. It doesn't belong to any one place. That’s the point. It was built from parts of many languages, with simple rules and no silent letters. Anyone can learn it without years of study or expensive classes. It was made so people...
World Mangrove Day: Mangroves are coastal forests that thrive where land and sea meet. They stand on sturdy roots in shallow water and trap sand and mud. That creates rich ground for tiny creatures and fish. World Mangrove Day brings attention to these forests. It shows how they protect the shores from strong...
One Voice Day: Join the entire world in reading the Universal Peace Covenant at the exact same time, a pledge to band together and improve our world for everyone.
National Parents’ Day: Give a thoughtful gift, plan an outing, or write a letter to show your parent or parents that you appreciate their hard work and unconditional love.
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.