May 31

Madison Square Garden opened to the public on May 31, 1879, as the first venue to bear that name in its original Manhattan location. William Henry Vanderbilt converted the former Gilmore's Garden into a state-of-the-art arena at 26th Street and Madison Avenue. The new Garden featured seating for tens of thousands and hosted boxing matches, exhibitions, and cultural events. Its construction set a precedent for large-scale indoor entertainment venues in the United States. Over time, Madison Square Garden would become synonymous with major sporting and musical performances. The opening marked a milestone in New York City's emergence as a global entertainment capital. It laid the groundwork for later iterations of the iconic Garden.

At the Reebok Grand Prix Gold meet in New York on May 31, 2008, Usain Bolt shattered the 100-meter world record with a wind-legal time of 9.72 seconds. This performance broke his own previous record and solidified Bolt’s reputation as the fastest man on earth. His powerful strides and relaxed running style captivated global audiences and redefined sprinting excellence. The record-breaking run came just weeks before the Beijing Olympics, where Bolt would go on to win triple gold medals. Coaches and competitors marveled at his natural talent and potential for faster times. Bolt’s achievement on this day marked the beginning of a historic era in track and field.