On This Day - January 20, 2026

Sisters Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Clafin open the first woman-owned brokerage firm in the United States.

The United States Senate amends and extends the 1875 reciprocity treaty with Hawaii securing a lease to Pearl Harbor as a Naval Base.

Irwin W. Cox registers the trademark for the steel-wool product called "SOS." The initialism for the shaved steel wool saturated with soap stood for "Save Our Saucepans."

The Wisconsin Cheese Foundation sponsors the making of the world's largest block of cheese ever made. At midnight, the process began at Steve's Cheese in a factory near Denmark, Wisconsin.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts and Advanced Cell Technology announced the successful cloning of calves that may have produced medicinal milk.

The inauguration of the 44th President of the United States takes place. President Barack Obama becomes the first African American to serve as a U.S. president. January 20th Celebrated Birthdays