July 17 is the 198th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 167 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about July 17th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about July 17th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- World Day for International Justice
- Yellow Pig Day
- National Peach Ice Cream Day
- National Tattoo Day
- World Emoji Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – July 17
1998: The Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC) is adopted
The ICC is the first international judicial body that has the power to try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
1989: The Stealth Bomber makes its debut
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit made its first public flight from Palmdale, California.
1976: Indonesia annexes East Timor and declares it its 27th province
This was the culmination of an 8-month long Indonesian invasion and occupation of the Southeast Asian country that began just after East Timor declared its independence from Portugal in November, 1975.
1955: Disneyland opens its doors for the first time
The popular theme park (“The Happiest Place on Earth”) was opened by Walt Disney in Anaheim, California.
1945: The Potsdam Conference begins
The heads of the US, the UK, and USSR met in Potsdam to discuss the terms of the German and Japanese surrenders, and to make post-war plans.
1981: The lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel after the fourth-floor walkway suddenly collapsed onto the second-floor walkway suspended from it causing both of them to crash into the crowded dance floor, killing 114 and injuring 216. July 17, 1981.
1959: Mary Leakey discovered ancient skull remains in Tanzania, Africa. This was the discovery of a new species of human-like creatures, Paranthropus boisei. Research revealed the fossils were more than 3.75 million years old and were of an extinct ape, which is now believed to be an ancestor of humans.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, July 17
1954: Angela Merkel, German politician, Chancellor of Germany
1952: David Hasselhoff, American actor, singer
1947: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
1939: Ali Khamenei, Iranian politician, 2nd Supreme Leader of Iran
1899: James Cagney, American actor
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, July 17
2009: Walter Cronkite, American journalist
1967: John Coltrane, American saxophonist, composer
1959: Billie Holiday, American singer-songwriter, actress
1912: Henri Poincaré, French mathematician, physicist, engineer
1790: Adam Smith, Scottish philosopher, economist
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