We are always so happy when May rolls around and we can bid April showers goodbye for another year. And it's a truly great month — temperate in many places, and filled with gorgeous blooms and all the signs that summer is just around the corner.
But how much do you truly know about the month of May? We have May trivia for you that you can use to stump your friends and family at your first backyard BBQ of the season.
May History Trivia Questions & Answers
So much has happened throughout history in the month of May. And our trivia questions about May history are just a sampling.
What state was admitted to the union on May 11, 1858?
Minnesota
What natural disaster occurred on May 18, 1980?
The eruption of Mount St. Helens
Who received a patent for blue jeans on May 20, 1873?
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis
The Empire State Building opened on May 1, 1931. What usurped it 39 years later as the tallest building in the world?
The first tower of the World Trade Center
What famous duo began their notable travels on May 14, 1804?
Merriwether Lewis and William Clark
What significant first by a woman happened on May 20, 1932?
Amelia Earhart flew across the Atlantic on the first solo flight for a woman.
In what year was Jamestown established on May 24?
1607
What color was the Golden Gate Bridge when it opened on May 27, 1937?
International orange (the same as today)
Who did U.S. Special Forces kill on May 2, 2011?
Osama bin Laden
What did Christopher Columbus “discover” on May 4, 1494?
Jamaica
What event, occurring on May 4, 1970, caused the temporary closure of more than 450 colleges and universities?
The Kent State shootings and riots
What burst into flames at 7:20 PM on May 6, 1937?
The Hindenburg
What ship was torpedoed by a German submarine on May 7, 1915?
The Lusitania
What was the name of the battle in May 1942 in which Japan suffered its first strategic defeat of the war?
Battle of the Coral Sea
What was the name of the 400-meter race gold medalist in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, who, along with Jesse Owens and others, stuck it to Hitler and his belief in Aryan superiority?
Archie Williams
Special Days in May Questions & Answers
Along with celebrating spring and moms, there are a number of other special days in May. How much do you know about them?
What day in May is considered to be Star Wars Day?
May 4th
Related: 75+ Star Wars Trivia Questions & Answers for Superfans
What does the ancient celebration of May Day actually celebrate?
The beginning of summer
Which May holiday is celebrated in remembrance of the Battle of Puebla in 1862?
Cinco de Mayo
May 5, 1865, was the first time that what later came to be called Memorial Day was celebrated. What was it called then?
Decoration Day
How long was the first American in space, Alan Shepard, actually in (or heading to and from) space?
15 minutes, 28 seconds
Who originated the idea of Mother’s Day?
Anna Jarvis
Related: More Mother's Day Trivia
Famous May Birthdays
Born in May? You're in good company! Test your knowledge of these famous people born in May.
What professional wrestler turned actor was born on May 2, 1972?
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Which monarch from England was born on May 24, 1819?
Queen Victoria
Martha Jane Canary was born on May 1, 1852. What name is she better known by?
Calamity Jane
On May 20, 1946, Cheryl Sarkisian was born. What name is she better known by?
Cher
Catherine the Great was born in May of 1729. Her name wasn’t actually Catherine. What was it?
Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst
Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856. Where was he born?
Freiberg, Moravia
Nobel Prize winner Henri Dunant was born on May 8, 1828. What organizations did he go on to establish?
International Red Cross and (to the joy of the Village People) the YMCA
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884. What does the S stand for in his name?
Just S (not a name). It was a compromise between his grandfathers’ names: Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young
May Miscellany Questions & Answers
From May flowers to sporting events, discover how well you know this trivia about the month.
What season is May in the Southern Hemisphere?
Fall/Autumn
What sporting event takes place on the first Saturday of every May?
The Kentucky Derby
What is May’s birthstone?
Emerald
Which two zodiac signs fall in the month of May?
Taurus, Gemini
What are May’s birth flowers?
Lily-of-the-valley and Hawthorne
According to a poem, “Marry in May and you’ll” what?
Rue the day
Who was May named for?
Maia, the Greek Goddess of Fertility
Why was May referred to as “The Month of Three Milkings” in Old English?
You could milk your cow up to three times per day in May.
What international song contest is held every May?
Eurovision
What meteor shower lasts nearly the entire month of May?
Eta Aquariids
May is the only month where none of these important US political figures have died. What are they?
US Presidents
Two holidays in May honor members of the US Military. One is Memorial Day. What is the other?
Armed Forces Day
What famous May festival awards the Palme d’Or?
Cannes Film Festival
Maybe You Know May Trivia Better Than You Thought
How did you do? In a month packed with activities, pop culture, important historical events, and lots of great weather, May is the perfect month for trivia. So set up trivia night and share these May questions and answers with your friends to see who will be crowned the King or Queen of the Maypole.
