Celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries in Slack or Microsoft Teams
Billy Birthday
by BuddiesHR
FeaturesHow it worksPricing
 Contact us
🇺🇸

29 fun facts for July, 17

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
<< July, 16
July, 18 >>
Summary
July 17th is a fascinating day of history, with events such as World Emoji Day and Yellow Pig Day celebrated, as well as significant occurrences like the opening of Disneyland in 1955, the founding of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1867, and the invention of air conditioning in 1902. Many notable births, deaths, and anniversaries make this day a truly intriguing one.
29 Fun facts
  1. July 17th is World Emoji Day, chosen because the date appears on the calendar emoji used by Apple and Google. The day is meant to celebrate the creative use of emojis to enhance communication.
  2. Yellow Pig Day is celebrated on July 17th by mathematicians, originating from two mathematicians, Michael Spivak and David C. Kelly, who had an inside joke about the number 17 and a fictional yellow pig creature.
  3. Disneyland, the first of Disney's amusement parks, opened in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955, created by Walt Disney himself as a place for families to enjoy magical experiences together.
  4. In 1850, mail service via steamboats between the East Coast and the West Coast of the United States began on July 17th, significantly speeding up the mail delivery process and communication between the coasts.
  5. Slovak Constitution Day is observed on July 17th to commemorate the adoption of Slovakia's first own constitution in 1992, following the Velvet Revolution.
  6. In 1936, on this day, the Spanish Civil War began, initially as a coup attempt by parts of the army against the Second Spanish Republic. The conflict led to significant global consequences and the rise of the Franco dictatorship.
  7. On July 17, 1717, King George I of England sailed down the Thames River to attend the world premiere of George Frideric Handel's "Water Music," a collection of orchestral movements enjoyed by both royalty and commoners alike.
  8. In 1867, Harvard School of Dental Medicine was founded on July 17th, as the first dental school in the United States, making it a pioneer in dental education.
  9. In 1975, the United States and the Soviet Union took part in a joint space mission, called the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, where spacecraft from both nations docked together in space on July 17th, symbolizing the easing of tensions between the two superpowers.
  10. The RMS Carpathia, the ship that rescued Titanic survivors, was sunk by a German U-boat on July 17, 1918, during World War I. The loss of the Carpathia deepened the tragedy of the Titanic disaster.
  11. On this day in 1959, legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday passed away. The event marks not only the loss of an icon in the music world but also serves as a reminder of Holiday's influence on the jazz genre.
  12. In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down on July 17th over Eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew members onboard. This tragic event sparked controversy and global outrage.
  13. The first electric traffic light was installed in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 17, 1914. This invention revolutionized the way traffic was managed, improving safety and efficiency in roadways.
  14. July 17, 1961, marks the date of the Paudash Lake County Raceway opening in Ontario, Canada. This historic event set the stage for future automobile racing events in the region.
  15. In 1979, Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle was overthrown on July 17th, ending a 46-year dynasty and bringing the Sandinista National Liberation Front to power, which significantly altered Nicaragua's political landscape.
  16. On this day in 1938, heroic aviator Douglas Corrigan took off from New York City, intending to fly to California but ended up in Ireland. Dubbed "Wrong Way Corrigan," his unlikely journey captured the world's attention and imagination.
  17. In 1984, July 17th was declared a National Ice Cream Day by U.S. President Ronald Reagan to honor the popular treat enjoyed by millions of people.
  18. On July 17, 1862, American journalist and feminist Ida B. Wells was born. Her investigative reporting on lynching in the United States during the late 19th/early 20th centuries brought attention to the issue of racial violence.
  19. The United States conducted its first-ever nuclear weapons test on July 17, 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project. Named Trinity, the test marked the beginning of the nuclear age.
  20. In 1902, Willis Carrier invented modern air conditioning on July 17th, fundamentally changing how people lived and worked in climates with extreme temperatures.
  21. July 17th, 1975 marked the first time the U.S. and Soviet Union worked together for a common scientific goal in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, featuring the Soyuz 19 and Apollo 18 spacecraft docking together in space.
  22. On July 17, 1945, the Potsdam Conference began as the leaders of the United States, Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom met to negotiate the postwar order and discuss Germany's fate after World War II.
  23. In 1970, the long-standing trade embargo between the United States and China began to soften on July 17th, leading to improved diplomatic relations between the two countries.
  24. July 17th, 1939 marked the premiere of the Marx Brothers' film, "At the Circus," a classic comedy that further cemented the legendary troupe's place in entertainment history.
  25. Arthur Fry, the inventor of Post-it notes, was born on July 17, 1931. His simple yet revolutionary invention has had a lasting impact on office culture and productivity worldwide.
  26. The popular children's book series "The Famous Five" by Enid Blyton was first published on July 17, 1942, sparking the imaginations of children around the globe and celebrating adventure and friendship.
  27. The territories of Alaska and Hawaii were approved as future states on July 17, 1947, paving the way for their eventual statehood and expansion of the United States.
  28. In 1918, the Romanov family was executed on July 17th, marking the grisly end of the Russian Imperial Family and setting the stage for the rise of the Soviet Union.
  29. On July 17, 1975, Einar Palsson became the first Icelander to summit Mount Everest, showing incredible perseverance and determination, and inspiring others to achieve their personal dreams and goals.

Browse all the fun facts per month