JULY 29 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on July 29
Walter Hunt
Died: June 8, 1859
Inventor of the safety pin and sewing machine.
Dovie Hudson
Died: November 12, 1994
Civil rights activist who filed the first lawsuit to desegregate public schools.
William Dement
Died: June 17, 2020
Researcher known as the "Father of Sleep Medicine" who was a leading authority of sleep problems and disorders, such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
Tim Gunn
Fashion educator and host of Project Runway.
Martina McBride
Powerhouse country music vocalist of hits like Independence Day and Concrete Angel, to name a few.
Historical Events on July 29
Events that occurred on July 29 throughout history
The first sugar plantation in Hawaii is established.
The first sugar plantation in Hawaii is established on the island of Kauaʻi. Owned by Ladd & Company, the sugar plantation was the first successful large-scale sugar manufacturer in the Hawaiian Islands.
Land lottery begins in Oklahoma.
Land lottery begins in Oklahoma. The lottery replaced chaotic land rushes to distribute plots in the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, and Wichita-Caddo reservations that were previously promised to the tribes by the U.S. government.
Walt Disney runs test footage Steamboat Willie
Walt Disney runs test footage Steamboat Willie, featuring Mickey Mouse. The film was the third film to star Mickey Mouse, but the first to have been officially distributed.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The first 101st Airborne Division paratroopers arrive in Vietnam
The first 4,000 101st Airborne Division paratroopers arrive in Vietnam, landing at Cam Ranh Bay. The jump was a demonstration to mark their arrival in Vietnam.
The first U.S. President visits the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
President Gerald Ford becomes the first U.S. President to visit the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Late night music videos premieres on NBC.
Late night music videos premieres on NBC, following the success of MTV. The late night show was called Friday Night Videos and featured a "Video Vote," "Hall of Fame" classic clips, and artist profiles.