The Village People released their hit song “Y.M.C.A.” in 1978. Since then, the song has become a staple at sporting events, and disco lovers have performed the accompanying arm dance move that spells out the acronym.

It was on this day, December 29th, in 1851 that the United States’ first YMCA opened in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Young Men’s Christian Association, or simply “the Y,” was founded in London, England in 1844. Captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan, American sailor and missionary, was influenced by the London YMCA and wanted to bring the organization to the United States. It was meant to serve as a home for British sailors that had landed in America. Now, there are more than 45 million members in the World Alliance of YMCAs.