History Today

Today in History — May 20

1927

20 May 1927: Charles Lindbergh Begins First Solo Nonstop Transatlantic Flight

On May 20, 1927, a young airmail pilot named Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, in a single-engine monoplane called the Spirit of St. Louis. His destination was Paris,…

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1536

19 May 1536: Anne Boleyn Executed at the Tower of London

On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest, and treason. Her death marked a dramatic turning…

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1980

18 May 1980: Mount St. Helens Erupts in Catastrophic Volcanic Explosion

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington State erupted with catastrophic force, becoming one of the most significant volcanic events in North American history. The eruption killed 57 people, flattened 230 square miles…

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