What happened in May 1966?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1966, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1🌊 Wilderness Sites Auctioned – U.S. to auction wilderness tracts from 1 to 1,200 acres across 12 states in the next six months for recreation.
- May 2🏛️ Ground Broken for Center – Groundbreaking ceremony held for the Kennedy Center for Retarded, honoring the late president's mother.
- May 3🌕 3D Lunar Tests – 3-dimensional lunar landscape tests conducted to aid early moon trips using computer data from Niagara Falls.
- May 4🌍 Polish Church Millennium – Polish Catholics celebrate 1,000 years with 300,000 attendees in Czestochowa, honoring the Madonna amidst a calm atmosphere.
- May 5🏫 Mexican State Battles Poverty – Michoacan focuses on education, infrastructure, and agriculture to combat poverty, seeking federal aid and private investment.
- May 6🌾 Wheat Quota Increased – President raises 1967 wheat quota by 15% to meet global demand for food and support record crop production.
- May 7🕰️ New Astronomical Clock – A new clock design tracks celestial bodies, tides, and time, showcasing innovative patents issued this week.
- May 8🌕 U.N. Moon Pact Urged – President Johnson calls for a U.N. treaty to ensure the Moon remains open for all, preventing sovereignty claims in space.
- May 9🎭 Bolshoi's Last Performance – The Bolshoi Ballet concludes its final performance at the Old Metropolitan, inviting past dancers for a memorable finale.
- May 10🦋 Butterflies Lose Habitat – Urbanization has destroyed the natural habitats of butterflies, according to specialists.
- May 11🏛️ Common Market Accord – Financing pact reached after all-night talks by ministers of 'Six', ending a 13-month snag in agricultural bargaining.
- May 12🌾 France Lauds Farm Agreement – France celebrates a significant agricultural agreement, marking unity within the bloc and a gain for De Gaulle.
- May 13🌍 U.N. Relief Agency Funded – The U.N. Relief Agency for Arabs covers a $4.2 million deficit with contributions and pledges from Europe.
- May 14🏁 Andretti Sets Record – Mario Andretti achieves a record lap speed of 167.411 mph during Indianapolis trials, marking a significant milestone in racing history.
- May 15🏛️ Major Archeological Discovery – Monks Mound in Illinois, a significant archaeological site, may have been the center of an early Indian metropolis.
- May 16🌍 Tashkent Earthquake Toll – Tashkent earthquake death toll rises to 10, with 1,000 injured and 100,000 left homeless in the disaster.
- May 17🚀 Gemini 9 Launch – Gemini 9 is set for a 3-day mission, including docking and lunar tests with two astronauts aboard.
- May 18🚀 Gemini Mission Delayed – Failure of Agena target vehicle cancels Gemini 9 launch; astronauts will attempt again in three weeks with a substitute unit.
- May 19🚀 Future of Space Travel – World's space scientists discuss future missions, including potential trips to Mars moons and sampling other planets.
- May 20🌧️ Drenching Rainfall Hits – Severe rainfall causes significant disruption for vehicles and pedestrians across various regions.
- May 21🖼️ Art Exhibition Opens – David Von Schlegell showcases nonmoving sculptures at the Royal, marking a significant art event.
- May 22🏛️ Finnish Coalition Forms – Four parties reach an agreement to form a government in Finland, including the previously excluded Reds, after a month of negotiations.
- May 23🏦 Banking Regulation Compromise – A compromise on banking regulations is anticipated, providing the U.S. with new tools for bank oversight.
- May 24🏛️ Mrs. Johnson Opens Playground – Mrs. Johnson inaugurates the experimental Riis Playground, promoting community engagement and children's activities.
- May 25📊 Johnson's Rights Panel – Johnson's panel urges a comprehensive program for civil rights, focusing on equality in employment, education, and housing.
- May 26🚀 Moon Program Advances – A mockup of the Saturn rocket is transported to its launch pad at Cape Kennedy, marking a significant step in the U.S. moon program.
- May 27⚾ Marichal's Unbeaten Streak – Juan Marichal wins his 9th game as the Giants beat the Phillies 1-0 in 14 innings with a sacrifice fly.
- May 28🛩️ French Jets Crash – Six French jets crash in Spain; all pilots bail out safely, with no fatalities reported on the ground.
- May 29🏆 N.Y.U. Revamps Arts – New York University is revising its liberal arts program to enhance relevance and vitality in modern society.
- May 30🦿 Legless Vietnamese Walk Again – A new project in Saigon provides limbs and training for the crippled, enabling them to walk again and improving their lives.
- May 31🌕 Surveyor Heads for Moon – Surveyor craft, carrying a camera, is on course for a soft landing on the Moon, marking a significant step in lunar exploration.
Happy Birthday! 1966 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1966 in real headlines. See the 1966 book →