What Happened on May 6?

May 6 is National Nurses Day — and the date of the Hindenburg disaster, Roger Bannister's four-minute mile, the Channel Tunnel opening, and the world's first postage stamp.

• 1840 — The Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp, becomes valid for mail

  On May 6, 1840, Britain's Penny Black stamp went into official use, letting senders prepay letters with a simple penny sticker showing young Queen Victoria. Read the full story →

• 1889 — Paris World's Fair opens, showcasing the brand-new Eiffel Tower

  The 1889 Exposition Universelle opened in Paris on May 6, celebrating the French Revolution's centennial with the Eiffel Tower as its dazzling centerpiece. Read the full story →

• 1937 — The Hindenburg airship catches fire while landing

  The giant German passenger airship Hindenburg burst into flames as it prepared to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey — a disaster that ended the age of passenger airships. Read the full story →

• 1954 — Roger Bannister runs the first sub-four-minute mile

  A 25-year-old British medical student ran a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds at Oxford, breaking a barrier many believed was physically impossible. Read the full story →

• 1994 — Queen Elizabeth II and President Mitterrand officially open the Channel Tunnel

  After six years of digging from both shores, Britain's queen and France's president cut ribbons in Calais and Folkestone to open the 'Chunnel' — the first land link between Britain and Europe since the Ice Age. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) · Willie Mays (1931–2024) · George Clooney (1961)

Days & observances

National Nurses Day · National Beverage Day · National Tourist Appreciation Day