Today’s Highlights

On May 27, 1937, the newly completed Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County, California, was opened to pedestrian traffic.

On this date

1930: New York’s Chrysler Building, at the time the world’s tallest building, opened to the public.

1942: Doris “Dorie” Miller, a cook aboard the USS West Virginia, became the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross for displaying “extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety” during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.

1993: A bomb set by the Sicilian mafia exploded outside the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy; 5 people were killed and 48 wounded, and dozens of centuries-old paintings were destroyed or damaged.

1998: Michael Fortier, the government’s star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after apologizing for not warning anyone about the deadly plot. (Fortier was freed in January 2006.)

Today’s birthdays

Actor Lee Meriwether is 90. Musician Bruce Cockburn is 80. Singer Dee Dee Bridgewater is 75. Football Hall of Famer Jackie Slater is 71. Actor Richard Schiff is 70. Singer Siouxsie Sioux is 68. Actor Peri Gilpin is 64. Comedian Adam Carolla is 61. Actor Todd Bridges is 60. Baseball Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell is 57. Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas is 57. Actor Paul Bettany is 54. Actor Jack McBrayer is 52. Rapper-musician Andre 3000 is 50. Rapper Jadakiss is 50. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is 50.