March 17

Mike the Headless Chicken (died 1947) was a Wyandotte rooster from Fruita, Colorado, that survived for 18 months after a beheading mishap in 1945. Hungry and thirsty, he was kept alive by his owner, farmer Lloyd Olsen, who fed him with milk and water via an eyedropper and offered small grains of corn. Mike toured sideshows and carnivals across the United States, attracting crowds fascinated by his bizarre condition. His unusual survival was studied by scientists and covered extensively in the media. Mike's death on March 17, 1947, prompted both celebration and curiosity in the town that still honors him with an annual festival.

Born in 1896, Dinkar G. Kelkar dedicated his life to collecting and preserving India's cultural heritage. He amassed thousands of artifacts including sculptures, paintings, textiles, and everyday objects representing diverse regional traditions. In 1932 he established the private Kelkar Museum in Pune, which under his guidance became the renowned Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum. Kelkar also authored works on art conservation and museology, influencing future generations of curators. His passion for cultural preservation created one of India's most celebrated art institutions until his death in 1990.

Rachel 'Bunny' Mellon (1910–2014) was an influential gardener, philanthropist, and art collector whose taste shaped gardens and museums alike. She designed the iconic White House Rose Garden for President John F. Kennedy, blending classical symmetry with natural beauty. Mellon founded the Oak Spring Garden Library, preserving rare botanical manuscripts and promoting horticultural scholarship. Alongside her husband, Paul Mellon, she curated a renowned collection of French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. She generously supported art, education, and conservation through numerous donations to institutions worldwide. Known for her refined elegance and quiet generosity, she advised presidents and philanthropists on art and landscape design. Her legacy endures in the gardens she crafted and the philanthropic foundations she established. Mellon passed away in 2014, leaving a profound impact on American cultural heritage.