On This Day: May 1

12 verified moments happened on May 1. Here they are in the order they actually happened — the same kind of puzzle you solve in Whensly every day.

1. 1786🎭 Mozart conducts the premiere of his comic opera The Marriage of Figaro at Vienna's Burgtheater.History · Source: Britannica; History.com, Marriage of Figaro premiere (May 1 1786)
2. 1884Catcher Moses Fleetwood Walker debuts for Toledo, becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues.Sports · Source: SABR, 'May 1, 1884: Fleet Walker's major-league debut'; Wikipedia (May 1 1884)
3. 1893🎡 A world's fair celebrating the anniversary of Columbus's voyage opens in Chicago, where the world's first giant Ferris Wheel will soon debut.USA 250 · Source: Britannica, World's Columbian Exposition opens (May 1 1893)
4. 1931🏙️ The Empire State Building is dedicated in New York as President Hoover symbolically switches on its lights.History · Source: HISTORY; ESB Official History (May 1 1931)
5. 1931🏙️ President Herbert Hoover ceremonially opens the newly completed Empire State Building in New York City by pressing a button from the White House.USA 250 · Source: HISTORY.com, Empire State Building dedicated (May 1 1931)
6. 1941🎬 Orson Welles's Citizen Kane premieres in New York City, later hailed as a landmark of cinema.Movies · Source: Wikipedia, 'Citizen Kane' world premiere (May 1 1941)
7. 1988Phil Parsons holds off the pack at Talladega for the only Cup Series victory of his careerStock Car Racing · Source: Wikipedia, "1988 Winston 500" — race held Sunday, May 1, 1988 at Talladega Superspeedway; Parsons' first and only career Cup win
8. 1991Nolan Ryan, at age 44, throws his record seventh career no-hitterSports · Source: Wikipedia, "Nolan Ryan's no-hitters"; MLB.com
9. 1991Rickey Henderson steals his 939th base to pass Lou Brock as baseball's all-time stolen-base kingSports · Source: SABR Games Project, 'May 1, 1991: Rickey Henderson becomes baseball's new stolen base king' (sabr.org)
10. 1994Ayrton Senna is killed in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, ImolaSports · Source: Wikipedia, “Death of Ayrton Senna” / “1994 San Marino Grand Prix”
11. 1999🧽 An optimistic sea sponge fry-cook debuts on Nickelodeon, soon becoming the network's defining cartoon mascot.TV · Source: Wikipedia (SpongeBob SquarePants season 1)
12. 2005🎯 Lionel Messi chips in his first Barcelona goal against Albacete, finishing a lofted assist from Ronaldinho at Camp Nou.Soccer · Source: FC Barcelona; ESPN (May 1 2005)