On May 30, 1778, Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire died after spending decades challenging authority and censorship.

On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first confirmed climbers to summit Mount Everest.

On May 28, 1934, John Dillinger’s legendary jailbreak helped make him America’s most famous outlaw.

On May 27, 1983, Soviet officer Stanislav Petrov chose not to report a false nuclear missile warning.

On May 26, 1796, Edward Jenner performed the first successful vaccination experiment against smallpox.

On May 22, 1972, survivors stranded in the Andes learned that rescue efforts had ended.

On May 21, 1962, three prisoners launched their legendary escape from Alcatraz using fake heads and a homemade raft.

On May 20, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space aboard Freedom 7.

On May 19, 1915, the Antarctic ship Endurance was doomed by crushing ice, beginning an incredible survival story.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in one of the most destructive volcanic events in U.S. history.