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38 fun facts for May, 3

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
From the first commercial jet flight to victories in politics and sports, May 3rd has seen various significant events worldwide. Celebrated as World Press Freedom Day and Polonia Day, this date has witnessed the patenting of the saxophone, inaugurations of iconic museums, and historic marriage dissolutions.
38 Fun facts
  1. On May 3rd, 1802, American inventor Robert Gray patented the first rotary washing machine. It was a wooden drum with ridges or holes, filled with clothes and water, then turned by hand.
  2. May 3rd, 1845, marked the day of the first performance by the Russian Imperial Ballet, now the Mariinsky Ballet, in St. Petersburg. The performance was Mikhailovsky Palace's Mikhailovsky Theater, which is the company's current home.
  3. In 1855, Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone. Invented in the 1840s, the saxophone is a reed woodwind instrument made in various sizes and types.
  4. On May 3rd, 1867, the Hudson's Bay Company ceded its rights to the vast territory in Canada, known as Rupert's Land, to the Dominion of Canada. The land transfer helped shape the growth of the country.
  5. Polonia Day is celebrated in Chicago, Illinois, on May 3rd since 1892, commemorating the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791. Chicago has a large Polish-American population, and this day celebrates the contributions of Polish immigrants and their descendants to the city and the US.
  6. May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day, an annual event begun by the United Nations in 1993. This day is observed to raise awareness for press freedom around the world and examines challenges faced by journalists as they strive for open and accurate coverage.
  7. On May 3rd, 1901, the first Australian federal election was held. Australia's six states agreed to federate as the Commonwealth of Australia, and the first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, was sworn in on January 1, 1901.
  8. The U.S. Supreme Court held on May 3rd, 1919, that New York's compulsory flag-saluting statute for public schools violated students' First Amendment rights to religious freedom.
  9. On May 3rd, 1937, the first Margaret Mitchell Award was presented for literature in Atlanta, Georgia. Mitchell authored the iconic Southern novel Gone with the Wind.
  10. The Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip "Peanuts" debuted on May 3rd, 1950. Created by Charles M. Schulz, the comic featured lovable characters such as Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy.
  11. On May 3rd, 1952, the first commercial jet flight occurred. The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flew a de Havilland Comet from London to Johannesburg, a journey that took 23 hours and seven refueling stops.
  12. On May 3rd, 1960, the Anne Frank House officially opened in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It is where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II and is now a museum and center for tolerance education.
  13. May 3rd marks National Paranormal Day in the United States, celebrating all aspects of the paranormal, from ghosts and UFOs to psychic phenomena and unexplained events.
  14. On May 3rd, 1965, the Beatles released their album "Ticket to Ride" in the United Kingdom, marking another milestone in their dominant musical career.
  15. In 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup on May 3rd, marking their last championship win until now.
  16. May 3rd, 1973, saw the completion of the Sears Tower in Chicago, the tallest building in the world at that time. It was later renamed the Willis Tower.
  17. On May 3rd, 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, holding office until 1990.
  18. May 3rd is National Garden Meditation Day in the United States, encouraging people to spend time outdoors, relax, and reflect in nature.
  19. On May 3rd,1980, President Jimmy Carter announced the US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
  20. In 1981, on May 3rd, American Airlines introduced the AAdvantage, the world's first frequent flyer program, rewarding loyal customers with airline miles and other perks.
  21. On May 3rd, 1989, a 214-year-long tradition ended as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., officially closed its doors to visitors on Sundays.
  22. May 3rd, 1991, marked the day that the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rating system was founded. It is a European video game content rating system to help customers make informed decisions when purchasing games.
  23. On May 3rd, 1997, Garry Kasparov, world chess champion, lost to IBM's Deep Blue, a computer chess program, in the first game of their six-game rematch.
  24. May 3rd is World Asthma Day, a global initiative organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), raising awareness about asthma prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
  25. In 2000, on May 3rd, Microsoft released Windows ME, an updated version of Windows 98, designed for home computer users.
  26. On May 3rd, 2001, the United States lost its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Commission for the first time since the committee's founding in 1947.
  27. May 3rd is National Teacher Appreciation Day in the United States, celebrating the work of educators and recognizing their contributions to the lives of their students.
  28. On May 3rd, 2006, the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle was closed for the first time for a month-long inspection and reinforcement project.
  29. May 3rd, 2008, saw the release of the first version of Google's Android operating system for mobile devices. Android has since become one of the world's most popular mobile platforms.
  30. On May 3rd, 2010, "Iron Man 2" premiered in the United States, marking another successful entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  31. In 2012, on May 3rd, London elected its first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, breaking barriers in an increasingly multicultural city.
  32. May 3rd, 2016, brought the end of the "Invincibles" era in English football as Leicester City won the Premier League, defying 5,000-1 odds.
  33. On May 3rd, 2017, Emmanuel Macron won the French presidential election, defeating Marine Le Pen and becoming the youngest president in French history.
  34. May 3rd is National Public Radio Day in the United States, commemorating the Act of Congress that helped establish public radio in 1971.
  35. In 2018, on May 3rd, the Kilauea volcano erupted on Hawaii's Big Island, causing widespread destruction and evacuations.
  36. On May 3rd, 2019, SpaceX successfully launched the first 60 Starlink satellites into orbit, beginning the creation of their satellite-based global internet service.
  37. May 3rd, 2020, Australia and New Zealand started discussing the possibility of creating a "travel bubble" to allow movement between countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  38. On May 3rd, 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to end their 27-year marriage, marking the end of an era in their joint philanthropic work.

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