U.S. combat soldiers reading newspapers with 'Hitler Dead' headline on May 2, 1945 @facethenation

German stormtroops training in a dummy trench system near Sedan, France, May 1917 @facethenation

In 1922 Iranian government purchased its first aircraft from Germany. Junkers over Tehran, 1925 @facethenation

In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, was known as one of the most racist cities in America. The Atlantic Firefighters turn their hoses full force on civil rights demonstrators on May, 1963 @facethenation

Mushroom cloud produced by the detonation of "George", a 225-kiloton nuclear bomb, on 8 May 1951, at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean @facethenation

Trains meeting at Promontory Summit, Utah, May 10, 1869, on the completion of the first transcontinental railroad @facethenation

On this day in 1869, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail line that connects their railroads.

Travel was obviously one of the aspects of U.S. life most impacted by the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Before the railroad, it took almost six months and cost $1000 to travel between California and New York. After the transcontinental railroad was completed, it cost $150 and took one week. For the first time, U.S. Americans could freely travel from coast to coast.

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Giuseppe "Nino" Farina celebrates winning first race in Formula 1 history at Silverstone on May 13, 1950 @facethenation

On May 13, 1950, the first Formula One World Championship Grand Prix race took place at the Silverstone circuit in England. An estimated 200,000 spectators travelled to the circuit to watch eleven out of the 21 qualifying competitors finish the inaugural Championship race, which was dominated by Alfa Romeo’s drivers who secured the top three finishing positions. King George VI, his wife Queen Elizabeth, and their daughter Princess Margaret were also in attendance.

The race winner was Italian driver Giuseppe Farina, who finished 2.6 seconds ahead of his teammate Luigi Fagioli. Farina went on to finish the year as the first official Formula One World Champion with a total of 30 points.

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