What Day Is July 17? World Emoji Day and Disneyland's Opening
July 17 is World Emoji Day. It also marks Disneyland's opening day in 1955 and the 1918 execution of Russia's last royal family.
About July 17
July 17 is the 198th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (199th in leap years). There are 167 days remaining until the end of the year. Two events separated by 37 years define this date — one of wonder, one of tragedy.
The Significance of July 17
On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its gates in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney had spent two years and $17 million creating what he called “a place where adults and children can experience together the wonders of life.” Opening day was chaotic — pavement still wet, rides breaking down, a counterfeit ticket flood — but the park survived it all and eventually became the template for every theme park that followed. Thirty-seven years earlier, in the early hours of July 17, 1918, Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei, along with their servants, were shot by Bolshevik guards in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. The execution ended Russia’s 300-year Romanov dynasty overnight.
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On This Day in History
- 1918Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, his wife Alexandra, their five children, and four servants were executed by Bolshevik guards in Yekaterinburg, ending the 300-year Romanov dynasty.
- 1955Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney spent $17 million building it over two years; the park drew 28,000 visitors on opening day and now attracts over 18 million annually.
Baby Names for This Day
July 17 falls under Cancer. Names connected to imagination, storytelling, and the magic of childhood:
- WaltBoy
Walter Elias Disney — the man who built an imagination factory and called it a park.
- AuroraGirl
Sleeping Beauty's name — one of Disney's earliest animated princesses.
- MickeyUnisex
Disney's most iconic character, whose silhouette became the park's logo.
- AnastasiaGirl
The youngest Romanov daughter — her fate inspired legends for decades.
- FloraGirl
One of the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty — the first ride at Disneyland.
- NicholasBoy
The last Tsar of Russia, whose dynasty ended on this date in 1918.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is July 17?add
July 17, 1955 was Disneyland's opening day in Anaheim, California. In 1918, Russia's last royal family, the Romanovs, was executed on this date. It is the 198th day of the year.
What number day of the year is July 17?add
July 17 is the 198th day of the year, or the 199th in leap years, with 167 days remaining.
What sign is July 17?add
July 17 falls under the sign of Cancer.