On May 25, 1787 delegates from almost every state (at that time) met in Philadelphia to begin discussions on the foundations of our government including revisions to the Articles of Confederation and electing our first President.

George Washington said secretly: “Yet something must be done or the fabric must fall, for it certainly is tottering.”

Months later the U.S. Constitution was adopted.

Image: The Adoption of the U.S. Constitution in Congress at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Sept. 17, 1787 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On today’s date May 25, 1738: A peace agreement was signed in London between Pennsylvania and Maryland more than a year after a Royal Proclamation was issued by King George II.

The issue was a boundary dispute that lasted more than 80 years between the two colonies.

Image: Map illustrating Cresap’s War by Kmusser via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

On May 25, 1948, the United States Territorial Expansion Memorial Commission endorsed Eero Saarinen‘s design of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

20 years later on May 25, 1968 Vice President Hubert Humphrey dedicated the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Image from 1968 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On May 25, 1844, Stuart Perry of Newport, New York received U.S. patent No. 3597 for his “Engine To Be Operated By The Explosive Mixtures Of Inflammable Gases Or Vapors”

Image of a model of Stuart Perry’s improvement to his 1844 gas engine that was patented two years later in 1846 via National Museum of American History, public domain

“It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, — “Always do what you are afraid to do.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson who was born on May 25, 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Image: Daguerreotype of Ralph Waldo Emerson c. 1856 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On May 25, 1935, Jesse Owens of Ohio State University tied the world record in the 100-yard dash, and set new world records in the long jump, the 220-yard sprint and the 220-yard low hurdles at a Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The following year Owens would win 4 gold medals at the Olympics in Berlin.

Image via Alamy

Sgt. Joe Petrowski of the 337th Inf. Regt., examining sights on an 88mm gun abandoned by the Germans. Terracina area, Italy

May 25, 1944

via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On May 25, 1539, Hernando de Soto and troops landed in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Image “The Landing at Tampa Bay” via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions

A photo of American actress Marie Doro c. 1902

Marie was born in Duncannon, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1882

Image: Burr McIntosh Studio, photographer via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On May 25, 1977, Star Wars was released in 32 theaters in the U.S.
The number of theaters playing the film surpassed 1,000 that summer.

About sixty theaters were still playing the film on May 25, 1978.

Image: Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in 1977 by LUCASFILM/20TH CENTURY FOX via Alamy

On May 25, 1986 roughly 6 million Americans attempted to create a human chain by holding hands across the lower 48 states in an event called “Hands Across America.”

Image Hands Across America, Philadelphia in 1986
Photo from Sam Cali via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0