24 fun facts for July, 4
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
July 4th holds significance for various historical events and celebrations worldwide, from the U.S. Independence Day to Mars Pathfinder landing on Mars. Other notable events include cooking contests and music festivals, making it a day of diverse and interesting happenings.
24 Fun facts
- U.S. Independence Day: On July 4, 1776, the United States declared independence from Britain, making it the most famous event on this day. U.S. Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and family gatherings across the country.
- France gifts Statue of Liberty to the United States: In 1884, the people of France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.
- Alice in Wonderland first published in the US: In 1865, the first American edition of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was published on July 4th.
- First American zoo established: The Philadelphia Zoo, the United States' first zoo, was chartered on July 4, 1859.
- Premiere of Mahler's Symphony No. 8: July 4, 1910, saw the world premiere of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8, also known as the "Symphony of a Thousand."
- Hank Aaron hit his 500th home run: On July 4, 1968, Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron hit his 500th home run during a game between the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants.
- Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio: July 4th weekend often brings thousands of twins to Twinsburg, Ohio for the annual Twins Day Festival, the world's largest gathering of twins.
- The Higgs Boson particle discovery announced: On July 4, 2012, physicists at CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, a key building block in the world of particle physics.
- Japanese traditional festival, Nagasaki Kunchi: Started in 1642, Nagasaki Kunchi celebrates the city's diverse culture with vibrant parades, dances, and performances throughout July 4th.
- Steamboat racing in the Philippines: On July 4, the Philippines celebrates Independence Day (Filipino-American Friendship Day) with steamboat races on the Pasig River in Manila.
- Hilo Bay Cook-Off in Hawaii: Hilo, Hawaii, hosts its annual Hilo Bay Cook-Off on July 4th, where local chefs compete to create the best culinary delicacies.
- The Island Games: The biennial Island Games, an international multisport event featuring athletes from island nations worldwide, often begin on July 4th.
- National Day of Mauritius: On July 4, 1991, Mauritius became a democratic nation with a new constitution and celebrates National Day every year on this date.
- Parchment commemoration in Poland: In honor of Saint Joannes Paulus II's visit, Poles celebrate Parchment Commemoration on July 4th by gathering around their town's memorial trees.
- President Lyndon B. Johnson signed The Freedom of Information Act: On July 4, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed The Freedom of Information Act, which aimed at increasing transparency in the U.S. government.
- First recorded hot dog eating contest: On July 4, 1972, the first recorded hot dog eating contest took place at Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, New York.
- Oscar Meyer's birth: On July 4, 1859, Oscar Mayer, the founder of the famous meat and cold cut production company, was born in Germany.
- Philippines Republic Day: July 4th was originally celebrated as the Philippines' Independence Day, but it was later moved to June 12, and July 4th became Filipino-American Friendship Day.
- The birth of Calvin Coolidge: On July 4, 1872, Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
- The Skylab space station honored: On July 4, 1974, Skylab astronauts set a new record for human spaceflight endurance, leading NASA to honor the space station on July 4th.
- Mars Pathfinder landing: On July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder became the first NASA robotic rover to land on Mars, starting a new era of Mars exploration.
- Rwanda holds Liberation Day: July 4th is celebrated in Rwanda as Liberation Day, commemorating the end of the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
- First female mayor in Oregon: On July 4, 1916, Clara Latourell Larsson was elected mayor of Troutdale, Oregon, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the state.
- "The Republic of Rock ’n’ Roll" - a French music festival: July 4th is the traditional start date for "The Republic of Rock ’n’ Roll" music festival in Paris, France.