Discover what happened on July 3 in history, featuring major moments in American history, finance, transportation, entertainment, and technological milestones that helped shape the modern world.
What Happened on July 3 in History?
Important events on this day include the end of the Battle of Gettysburg, the creation of the FDIC during the Great Depression, Jackie Robinson becoming the first African American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the release of Back to the Future in theaters.
JULY 3 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1775 – U.S. Gen. George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, MA.
1819 – The Bank of Savings in New York, NY — the first savings bank in the United States — opened.
1852 – Congresss established the United States’ second mint in San Francisco, CA.
1863 – The U.S. Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, PA, ended after three days. It was a major victory for the North as Confederate troops retreated.
1871 – The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company introduced the first narrow-gauge locomotive. It was called the “Montezuma.”
1884 – Dow Jones and Company published its first stock average.
1886 – “The New York Tribune” became the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand.
1890 – Idaho was admitted as the 43rd state of the United States.
1903 – The first cable across the Pacific Ocean was spliced between Honolulu, Midway, Guam and Manila.
1922 – “Fruit Garden and Home” magazine was introduced. It was later renamed “Better Homes and Gardens” two years later.
1924 – Clarence Birdseye founded the General Seafood Corp.
1930 – Congress created the U.S. Veterans Administration.
1934 – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) made its first payment to Lydia Losiger.
1937 – Del Mar race track opened in Del Mar, CA.
1939 – Chic Young’s comic strip character, “Blondie” was first heard on CBS radio.
1940 – Bud Abbott and Lou Costello debuted on NBC radio.
1945 – The first civilian passenger car built since February 1942 was driven off the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company plant in Detroit, MI. Production had been diverted due to World War II.
1952 – The kids’ show “Mr. Peepers”, starring Wally Cox, made its debut on TV.
1962 – Jackie Robinson became the first African American to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
1974 – Tony Orlando & Dawn debuted their CBS television variety series. It did so well in a summer run that the network brought it back in December
1981 – The Associated Press ran its first story about two rare illnesses afflicting homosexual men. One of the diseases was later named AIDS.
1985 – The movie “Back to the Future”, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and a DeLorean car, opened in theaters.
1986 – President Ronald Reagan presided over a ceremony that saw the relighting of the renovated Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
1991 – President George H.W. Bush formally inaugurated the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
1997 – President Clinton made his first formal response to the charges of sexual harassment from Paula Jones. He denied all charges and asked the judge to dismiss the case.
2007 – The first “Transfomers” movie premiered in theaters.
2014 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 17,000 for the first time.
2019 – Research revealed that the U.S. produces the most waste per person globally and recycles the least.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 3:
Joanne Herring – 97 years old (1929) – Socialite, businesswoman, political activist, philanthropist, diplomat, and television talk show host
Harrison Schmitt – 91 years old (1935) – Geologist, astronaut, and politician. Twelfth man to walk on the moon
Rhoda Scott – 88 years old (1938) – Soul and jazz Hammond organist
Lamar Alexander – 86 years old (1940) – Lawyer and politician, 5th United States Secretary of Education
Gloria Allred – 85 years old (1941) – Lawyer and activist
Kurtwood Smith – 83 years old (1943) – Actor
Norman E. Thagard – 83 years old (1943) – Astronaut
Johnny Lee – 80 years old (1946) – Singer and guitarist
Dave Barry – 79 years old (1947) – Journalist and author
Betty Buckley – 79 years old (1947) – Actress and singer
Mike Burton – 79 years old (1947) – Swimmer
James Hahn – 76 years old (1950) – Judge and politician, 40th Mayor of Los Angeles
Dugan Basham – 74 years old (1952) – Stock racing driver
Carla Olson – 74 years old (1952) – Singer-songwriter and music producer
Montel Williams – 70 years old (1956) – Talk show host and television personality
Aaron Tippin – 68 years old (1958) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Ian Maxtone-Graham – 67 years old (1959) – Screenwriter and producer
Stephen Pearcy – 67 years old (1959) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Scott Borchetta – 64 years old (1962) – Record executive and entrepreneur
Tom Cruise – 64 years old (1962) – Actor and producer
Thomas Gibson – 64 years old (1962) – Actor and director
Yeardley Smith – 62 years old (1964) – Actress, voice actress, comedian and writer
Connie Nielsen – 61 years old (1965) – Danish-American actress
Moisés Alou – 60 years old (1966) – Baseball player
Audra McDonald – 56 years old (1970) – Actress and singer
Patrick Wilson – 53 years old (1973) – Actor
Wanderlei Silva – 50 years old (1976) – Brazilian-American mixed martial artist
David Bowens – 49 years old (1977) – Football player
Olivia Munn – 46 years old (1980) – Actress and television host
Manny Lawson – 42 years old (1984) – Football player
Elle King – 37 years old (1989) – Singer, songwriter, and actress
Alison Riske-Amritraj – 36 years old (1990) – Tennis player
Crystal Dunn – 34 years old (1992) – Soccer player
Chris Jones – 32 years old (1994) – Football player
Cole Tucker – 30 years old (1996) – Baseball player
T. J. Hockenson – 29 years old (1997) – Football player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 3:
Today's special observances are temporarily unavailable. Please check back soon.
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.
