May 2, 2011 – U.S. Special Operations Forces killed Osama bin Laden

May 5th – Cinco de Mayo

May 5, 1865 – Decoration Day was first observed in the U.S., with the tradition of decorating soldiers’ graves from the Civil War with flowers. The observance date was later moved and became better known as Memorial Day

May 5, 1893 – The Wall Street Crash of 1893 began as stock prices fell dramatically

May 5, 1961 – Alan Shepard became the first American in space

May 7, 1915 – The British passenger ship Lusitania was torpedoed by a German during World War I

May 10, 1994 – Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa

May 14, 1607 – The first permanent English settlement in America was established at Jamestown, Virginia

May 14, 1804 – Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed St. Louis on their expedition to explore the Northwest

May 14, 1796 – Smallpox vaccine was developed by Dr. Edward Jenner

May 17, 1792 – The New York Stock Exchange was established

May 17, 1954 – Segregated schools were ruled unconstitutional

May 18, 1980 – Mount St. Helen’s volcano erupted in southwestern WashingtonState

May 18, 1998 – Microsoft Corporation was sued by the U.S. Federal government and 20 state governments charging the company with using unfair tactics to crush competition and restrict choices for consumers.

 May 20, 1932 – Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 13 hours

May 21, 1881 – The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton

May 27, 1937 – Grand opening of the Golden GateBridge

May 30, 1783 – The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first daily newspaper published in America

May 30, 1922 – The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated.