What Happened on January 5?

January 5 is the day Henry Ford stunned America by paying workers $5 a day — and when construction began on the mighty Golden Gate Bridge!

1914 — Henry Ford announces $5-a-day wage

Ford doubled his workers' pay to $5 a day AND cut the workday from nine hours to eight — shocking rivals, slashing turnover, and helping create the modern American middle class. Read the full story →
1925 — First woman governor inaugurated in U.S. history

Nellie Tayloe Ross took Wyoming's oath at noon on January 5, 1925 — the first woman anywhere in America to serve as governor of a state. Read the full story →
1933 — Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge

Officials broke ground with ceremonial golden spades for what would become the longest bridge span on Earth — built across a strait famous for winds, fog, and earthquakes. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Hayao Miyazaki (1941) · Aaron 'Bunny' Lapin (1914–1999)

National Screenwriters Day · National Whipped Cream Day