June 27th in History

Michael Dobson | June 27

Promotional photo from the television series Route 66 (1962). (Credit: CBS/Screen Gems)
The actual Route 66 was removed from the Federal highway system on June 27, 1985.

Today in History

  • Joshua Slocum becomes the first person to sail single-handedly around the world (1898)
  • Sailors mutiny aboard the battleship Potemkin, demanding liberty (1905)
  • Fillmore East closes (1971)
  • Route 66 is officially removed from the Federal highway system (1985)
  • Tony Blair resigns as UK Prime Minister (2007)

Birthdays

  • Paul Mauser, weapons designer (1838)
  • Charles Stewart Parnell, Irish leader (1846)
  • Lafcadio Hearn, author (1850)
  • Emma Goldman, activist (1869)
  • Helen Keller, activist (1880)
  • Juan Trippe, founder of PanAm (1899)
  • Willie Mosconi, pool player (1913)
  • Ross Perot, businessman and politician (1930)
  • Vera Wang, fashion designer (1949)
  • Julia Duffy, actress (1951)
  • Ted Haggard, televangelist (1956)
  • J. J. Abrams, filmmaker (1966)
  • Tobey Maguire, actor (1975)
  • Khloé Kardashian, reality star (1984)

Deaths

  • James Smithson, mineralogist and benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution (1829)
  • Sophie Germain, mathematician (1831)
  • Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mormon leaders (1844)
  • Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, producer (1996)
  • Georges Papadoupoulos, Greek leader (1999)
  • Jack Lemmon, actor (2001)
  • John Entwhistle, singer-songwriter, member of The Who (2002)
  • Shelby Foote, historian (2005)

Holidays and Celebrations

  • Armed Forces Day (UK)
  • Canadian Multiculturalism Day (Canada)
  • Day of Turkmen Workers of Culture and Art (Turkmenistan)
  • Helen Keller Day (US)
  • Independence Day (Djibouti)
  • Mixed Race Day (Brazil)
  • National HIV Testing Day (US)
  • Unity Day (Tajikistan)
  • Siebenschläfertag (Germany)
Informal and made-up holidays include Decide to be Married Day, “Happy Birthday to You” Day, Industrial Workers of the World Day, National HIV Testing Day, and PTSD Awareness Day.
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June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years). There are 187 days remaining until the end of the year.