This Day in Pop Culture for March 20

1999: Legoland Opens in California

Legoland California opened its gates for the first time on this day in 1999. Located in Carlsbad, it is the third Legoland built and the first to be built outside of Europe. (A second Legoland was built in Florida and was opened in 2011.) Since its opening, the Carlsbad location has extended to include a Lego-themed Sea Life Aquarium (2008), a Chima-themed water park (2010) and a hotel (2013). Featuring more than 60 rides and attractions, one of the most popular parts of the park that all ages appreciate is Miniland USA that features numerous famous architecture buildings at a 1:20 scale.

1990: The Beginning of Promise Keepers

On this day in 1990, University of Colorado Boulder’s football coach, Bill McCartney, received inspiration for the Promise Keepers men’s ministry (PK) while attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet. He thought about his stadium back home and how it could be used as a place “for training and teaching on what it means to be godly men.” In July of that same year, 72 men met to discuss and organize the first PK event and following July, the first PK was held. 4200 men attended. In 1997, the ministry held an open-air event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was reported to be the largest gathering of men in American History. In 2020, Promise Keepers is planning another event in Arlington, Texas.