May 16, 1866 - The U.S. Congress authorized the first 5-cent piece to be minted.

May 15, 1941 - Joe DiMaggio began his historic major league baseball hitting streak of 56 games.

May 14, 1853 - Gail Borden applied for a patent for condensed milk.

May 13, 1607 - Jamestown, Virginia, was settled as a colony of England.

May 12, 1847 - William Clayton invented the odometer.

May 11, 1910 - Glacier National Park in Montana was established.

May 10, 1773 - The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies.

May 9, 1926 - Americans Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first men to fly an airplane over the North Pole.

May 8, 1794 - The United States Post Office was established.

May 7, 1955 - "Rock Around The Clock" was released by Bill Haley & His Comets.

May 6, 1840 - The first adhesive postage stamps went on sale in Great Britain.

May 5, 1809 - Mary Kies was awarded the first patent to go to a woman. It was for technique for weaving straw with silk and thread.

May 4, 1776 - Rhode Island declared its freedom from England two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

May 3, 1921 - West Virginia imposed the first state sales tax.

May 2, 1974 - The filming of "Jaws" began in Martha's Vineyard, MA.

May 1, 1486 - Christopher Columbus convinced Queen Isabella to fund an expedition to the West Indies.