What happened in May 1987?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1987, 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🌍 U.N. Ozone Agreement – A U.N. conference reached a preliminary agreement to freeze and reduce chemicals depleting the ozone layer.
- May 2🏗️ New Bridge Opens – The $240 million Sunshine Skyway bridge opened with a procession, honoring victims of a previous bridge collapse.
- May 3🎨 Stradivari Festival Begins – Cremona, Italy, inaugurates the Stradivari Festival, celebrating 250 years since Antonio Stradivari's death with music and craftsmanship exhibitions.
- May 4🏛️ Aida Premiere Thebes – Verdi's opera 'Aida' premiered in Thebes, Egypt, for the first time since 1871, attended by 5,000, including royals.
- May 5🏀 Frazier Enters Hall – Walt Frazier, a key player from the Knicks' 1973 championship team, is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
- May 6🏛️ South Africa Votes – Whites-only election in South Africa is criticized as a farce by 24 million disfranchised blacks, with calls for a boycott.
- May 7🛩️ Blimp Rides Return – Fifty years after the Hindenburg disaster, a British company offers the first dirigible flights for fare-paying passengers in the U.S.
- May 8🌍 Canada's First $1 Coin – Canada struck its first $1 coin, a gold-colored 11-sided piece, set to enter circulation in July and replace the dollar bill.
- May 9🌍 Santa Fe Trail Designation – President Reagan signed a bill designating the Santa Fe Trail as a National Historic Trail, recognizing its historical significance.
- May 10🌊 Ferry Capsizes in China – Over 90 passengers feared drowned after a ferry collided with a tugboat on the Yangtze River near Nantong, Jiangsu Province.
- May 11🔬 Superconductors Breakthrough – Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in superconducting materials, enabling enormous electric currents for advanced applications.
- May 12🔬 AIDS Research Insights – A British report highlights genetic factors influencing individual susceptibility to AIDS, shedding light on the epidemic's complexities.
- May 13💧 New Water Extraction Method – Researchers developed a new process to extract fresh drinking water from seawater at a significantly lower cost than existing systems.
- May 14🔬 New Evidence on Pluto – Evidence found suggests Pluto has a significant atmosphere, based on data from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite and Earth observations.
- May 15🔬 Vitamin Programs Reduce Deaths – Vitamin A supplements may significantly lower child mortality rates in developing nations, according to recent testimony.
- May 16🎨 Ceramic Art Display – Chinese funerary art from ancient emperors is showcased, revealing historical practices surrounding death and the afterlife.
- May 17🚀 Soviet Rocket Test – The Soviet Union successfully test-launched its most powerful rocket, capable of putting a 100-ton space shuttle into orbit.
- May 18🌍 World Population Hits 5 Billion – The world's population is projected to reach five billion soon, highlighting rapid growth trends and future challenges.
- May 19🎾 McEnroe Defeats Sanchez – John McEnroe, playing for the U.S. for the first time in two years, defeated Spain's Emilio Sanchez in the World Team Cup in Dusseldorf.
- May 20🏗️ France Backs Airbus Jets – The French Government will finance two state aerospace groups in the Airbus consortium's A340 and A330 jet projects.
- May 21💉 U.S. Allows Trial Drugs – The U.S. government announced new rules to expedite access to experimental drugs for AIDS and other terminal illnesses.
- May 22🎨 Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' Stays – Britain prevents Vincent van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' from leaving the country for six months after its record auction sale.
- May 23📜 Record Price for Manuscript – A Mozart manuscript sold for $4.34 million at Sotheby's, setting a record for a musical manuscript auction.
- May 24🏁 Indianapolis 500 Race – Bobby Rahal, the defending champion, prepares to defend his title at the Indianapolis 500, a major event in auto racing history.
- May 25🏁 Al Unser Wins Indy 500 – Al Unser Sr. becomes the oldest driver to win the Indianapolis 500, claiming victory after a last-minute entry.
- May 26🔬 Test-Tube Kittens Success – Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution achieved in vitro fertilization in domestic cats, marking a milestone for endangered felids.
- May 27🔥 China Halts Forest Fire – China extinguished its worst forest fire in history after tens of thousands of firefighters worked tirelessly, aided by weather modification techniques.
- May 28📈 Japan Opens Markets – Japan announces further steps to open its financial markets to foreign institutions, enhancing global economic integration.
- May 29🏛️ Groundbreaking for Mosque – New York Muslims broke ground for a $25 million mosque and cultural center, marking a significant milestone after two decades of planning.
- May 30🎓 Wellesley College Commencement – Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole addressed graduates at Wellesley College, urging tribute to the Constitution's bicentennial.
- May 31🛩️ Teenager Lands Plane – A 19-year-old pilot from West Germany flew over 400 miles of Soviet territory, landing next to the Kremlin wall, shocking authorities.
Happy Birthday! 1987 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1987 in real headlines. See the 1987 book →