On This Day in History – June 26

by hpmom June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

1284 – According to legend, the Pied Piper lures 130 children out of Hamelin, Germany, never to be seen again.
1870 – The U.S. Congress creates the Department of Justice, establishing a centralized federal legal system.
1945 – The United Nations Charter is signed by 50 nations in San Francisco, officially creating the United Nations.
1948 – The Berlin Airlift begins as the U.S. and its allies start supplying West Berlin by air after a Soviet blockade.
1963 – President John F. Kennedy delivers his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in West Berlin during the Cold War.
1974 – The first UPC (Universal Product Code) is scanned at a supermarket in Ohio — it was a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum.
2015 – The U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges.

Abner Doubleday (1819–1893), American Civil War general, often (incorrectly) credited with inventing baseball.
Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973), American author and Nobel Prize laureate best known for The Good Earth.
Peter Lorre (1904–1964), Hungarian-American actor known for his roles in M and Casablanca.
Eleanor Parker (1922–2013), American actress known for The Sound of Music.
Chris O’Donnell (born 1970), American actor known for Scent of a Woman and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Nick Offerman (born 1970), American actor and comedian best known for playing Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation.
Ariana Grande (born 1993), American pop singer and actress with multiple chart-topping albums.

King George IV (1762–1830), King of the United Kingdom, remembered for his extravagant lifestyle and Regency-era influence.
Strom Thurmond (1902–2003), American politician and senator known for his long tenure and controversial views on civil rights.
Nora Ephron (1941–2012), American screenwriter and director, known for When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Worldwide) – Established by the UN to raise awareness of the impact of drug abuse and illegal trafficking.
United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Worldwide) – Recognizes and supports those who have endured torture.
Independence Day (Madagascar) – Celebrates Madagascar’s independence from France in 1960.
Flag Day (Romania) – Honors the adoption of Romania’s current tricolor flag in 1848.

President Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech is remembered for both its powerful Cold War message and the urban legend that he accidentally called himself a jelly doughnut (he didn’t).
The first product ever scanned with a barcode was a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum, marking the start of modern retail checkout systems.
Ariana Grande, born on this day, was once a Broadway actress before rising to global pop stardom.
The Berlin Airlift delivered over 2.3 million tons of supplies to West Berlin over the course of nearly a year.
The UN Charter, signed on this day in 1945, laid the groundwork for global diplomacy and peacekeeping after World War II.