Rediscover past events and watch the world write new chapters with key moments from May’s then and now! Every month, we dive into our archival stock footage for editorial content—finding top-quality, timely inspiration for your marketing calendars, news, or documentary projects.
Prepare for King Charles III’s upcoming coronation, learn more about Space X’s pioneering Starlink Mission, explore Glacier National Park, relive Mickey Mouse’s debut, and the founding of the American Red Cross.
May Events
Coronation of King Charles III
May 6, 2023
According to Buckingham Palace, the event will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.” And it’s happening in just under a fortnight! In arguably the most poignant act from the ancient lineup, the Archbishop of Canterbury will place St. Edwards’s Crown atop the monarch’s head, proffering his role of the head of the Church of England, full title and powers. Camilla will wear Queen Mary’s 1911 heirloom headpiece, breaking with the centuries-old tradition of the consort commissioning her own. Get ready with our curated collection on King Charles!
Prince Charles At 70: His Life In Photos by PA_Media.
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission
May 6, 2022
It was 5:42 AM on a Florida Friday. SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 at the Kennedy Space Center as the world woke up and waited for the weekend. This first-stage booster supported 53 Starlink satellites in the first of several Starlink missions since. Today, they form part of the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth. They enable revolutionary high-speed, low-latency internet service to over one million subscribers and counting! Explore the company making humanity multi-planetary in our curated collection.
Timely Tip: It’s never old news with SpaceX. On April 20, 2023, they attempted to launch the most powerful vehicle ever traveling to space, the Starship. It exploded minutes after liftoff of its inaugural test flight.
Glacier National Park established
May 11, 1910
President Taft signed the bill establishing Glacier as the country’s 10th national park. Its protection would ensure the delight of future generations, but this isn’t where it all began! The heart of Northwest Montana saw human activity for over 10,000 years—Blackfeet Indians inhabited the eastern Prairies while the Salish and Kootenai lived in the western valleys. Then came European explorers, miners, and, eventually, settlers. As the century turned, people began to value the area’s unique scenic beauty and called for park status. Explore it for yourself in our curated editorial collection.
1930S – Tourists Enjoy The Scenery And Wildlife Of Glacier National Park by retrofootage.
Mickey Mouse Debuts
May 15, 1928
An animated mouse wearing cheeky shorts appeared in Plane Crazy, a silent short directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Imitating Charles Lindbergh, Mickey tried to fly—but the film failed to pick up a distributor. A few months later, he took the wheel on Steamboat Willie and sailed for successful seas! This mouse is now one of the world’s most recognizable celebrities, leaving big yellow shoes for all wannabe VIP vermin to fill. Follow Mickey’s story from cartoon cameo to rodent royalty in our curated media collection.
1933 – In This Animated Film, Skeletons Spook Mickey Mouse In A Haunted House by retrofootage.
American Red Cross founded
May 21, 1881
Humanitarian Clara Barton became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” for her work in the American Civil War. She later served the International Red Cross in the Franco-Prussian war and finally established the U.S. branch with vice-president Adolphus Solomons. Together they led the organization through its first two decades, including the first domestic disaster response and the first international relief mission. Their legacy remains an exemplary hope for a troubled world. Commemorate generations of helpers with our curated media collection.
American Children Donate Money For Japanese Earthquake Relief by VelvetMemories.
What projects are on your calendar for May? Whatever they are, Pond5 has everything you need to engage your audience, thanks to partners such as Reuters, Life, Global News, and other top agencies. We offer the world’s most extensive library of Editorial and archival footage. Remember, new content is added daily to the Pond5 Editorial collection, so keep checking back for new surprises.
Remember, we can clear editorial clips for commercial productions and indemnify them based on your specific needs. To discuss editorial content for use in your commercial project, contact us.