May 20 - This Day in History

May 20 : General Interest 1873: Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive patent for blue jeans On this day in 1873, San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss and Reno, Nevada, tailor Jacob Davis are given a patent to create work pants reinforced with metal rivets, marking the birth of one of the world's most famous garments: blue jeans... read more American Revolution 1778 : Battle of Barren Hill, Pennsylvania http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-barren-hill-pennsylvania Automotive 1995 : Street in front of the White House closed to traffic http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/street-in-front-of-the-white-house-closed-to-traffic Civil War 1862 : Union Congress passes the Homestead Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/union-congress-passes-the-homestead-act Cold War 1956 : United States drops hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-drops-hydrogen-bomb-over-bikini-atoll Crime 2005 : Mary Kay Letourneau marries former victim http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mary-kay-letourneau-marries-former-victim Disaster 1965 : Plane crashes at Cairo airport http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/plane-crashes-at-cairo-airport General Interest 1498 : Vasco da Gama reaches India http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vasco-da-gama-reaches-india 1506 : Christopher Columbus dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/christopher-columbus-dies 1862 : The Homestead Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-homestead-act 1927 : Spirit of St. Louis departs http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ispirit-of-st-louisi-departs 1969 : Battle for Hamburger Hill ends http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-for-hamburger-hill-ends 1996 : Supreme Court defends rights of homosexuals http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/supreme-court-defends-rights-of-homosexuals Hollywood 2007 : The Simpsons airs 400th episode http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-simpsons-airs-400th-episode Literary 1946 : W.H. Auden becomes a U.S. citizen http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wh-auden-becomes-a-us-citizen Music 1998 : Frank Sinatra is laid to rest http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/frank-sinatra-is-laid-to-rest Old West 1873 : Levi Strauss patents copper-riveted jeans http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/levi-strauss-patents-copper-riveted-jeans Presidential 1862 : Lincoln signs Homestead Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-signs-homestead-act Sports 1989 : Sunday Silence wins Preakness by a nose http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sunday-silence-wins-preakness-by-a-nose Vietnam War 1953 : French see "light at the end of the tunnel" in Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-see-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-in-vietnam 1969 : Kennedy criticizes the "Hamburger Hill" battle http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kennedy-criticizes-the-hamburger-hill-battle World War I 1915 : British renew attacks in Battle of Festubert http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-renew-attacks-in-battle-of-festubert World War II 1940 : Germans break through to English Channel at Abbeville, France http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-break-through-to-english-channel-at-abbeville-france