The D-Day invasion began. (1944) Code named "Operation Overlord" and also known as "Operation Neptune," the Battle of Normandy began with 155,000 allied troops landing on a 5-mile (about 8-kilometer) stretch of the Normandy coast. It was the largest amphibious military action in history.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was created. (1934) The Securities Act of 1933 was signed into law by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, creating the commission. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforced federal securities laws and regulated the nation's stock exchanges and other U.S. securities markets.
Senator Robert F. Kennedy died. (1968) Senator Kennedy was shot on June 5th in Los Angeles, California by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, who was arrested immediately after the shooting. Sirhan, a Christian Palestinian who emigrated to the U.S. when he was 12 years old, was sentenced to life in prison at Pleasant Valley State Prison in California.
The Chrysler Corporation was founded. (1925) Founded by Walter Percy Chrysler, the corporation became part of the German company DaimlerChrysler AG in 1998, and later becoming DaimlerChrysler Motors Company LLC.
The first U.S. gas tax was created. (1932) The Revenue Act of 1932 created the gas tax — a $0.01 cent tax per gallon (about $0.025 cents per liter) of gas. Signed into law by U.S. President Herbert Hoover, the tax also increased top income taxes from 25% to 63% and double real estate taxes.
The first drive-in theater opened. (1933) The theater was opened by Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., whose family owned a chemical company, in Camden, New Jersey. Hollingshead determined the logistics of outdoor theaters by performing tests in his driveway.
The Basketball Association of America was formed. (1946) Founded in New York City, the league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Bob Barker ended his run as host of the Price is Right. (2007) The U.S. television game show started in 1972, with Barker as the host. American actor Drew Carey took over as host upon Barker's departure. The Price is Right is the longest continuously-running game show in history.
The Major League Baseball record for pitching scoreless innings was set at 58 innings. (1968) Don Drysdale, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, set the record. It held for 20 years until it was broken by another Dodger, Orel Hershiser, in 1988.
The world's first university museum opened. (1683) The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology opened in Oxford, England. The museum was renovated from 2006 to 2009 and is open still today.
The Chicago El — Chicago's elevated train — began operations. (1892) The first ride involved a small steam engine pulling wooden coaches with 30 passengers. Today, approximately 594,000 passengers board Chicago's train system each day.
Alaska Airlines began operations. (1944) Founded as McGee Airways in 1932, the airline's first service was between Anchorage and Bristol Bay in a single-engine 3-passenger plane. The airline introduced its first jet plane, the Convair CV-880, in 1961. It now flies to more than 90 destinations with more than 100 airplanes from three major hubs.
Alaska's Novarupta volcano sets the 20th Century's record for the largest volcanic eruption. (1912) It released 30 times the magma that volcano Mount St. Helen did in its 1980 eruption.
The Great Seattle Fire burned down much of downtown Seattle, Washington. (1889) The fire started when a worker in a cabinet-making shop allowed hot glue to boil over into a gasoline fire. The fire destroyed 25 blocks, but only one person is thought to have died as a result.
Napoleon's brother was crowned King of Spain. (1808) Joseph Bonaparte was made King of Spain as Joseph I of Spain by his brother Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon I of France. He served as King until December 11, 1813 after a loss at the Battle of Vitoria and returned to France.
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