The first Father's Day celebration took place in Spokane, Washington, propelled by the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd. Inspired by Mother's Day, which gained recognition in the early 1900s, Dodd sought to create a day to honor fathers. The idea originated in 1909 when she proposed the concept during a sermon at a local church. Dodd was particularly motivated by her father, William Jackson Smart, a single parent who raised six children on his own following the death of his wife. She believed that fathers deserved appreciation similar to that given to mothers.

The inaugural celebration occurred on June 19, 1910, and featured various festivities including church services and family gatherings, emphasizing the role of fathers in nurturing and providing for their children. Dodd's vision garnered local support, and Spokane residents participated enthusiastically, marking the day with activities that highlighted fatherhood's importance. The event also sparked discussions about parental roles in society.

Following the success in Spokane, the concept of Father's Day spread to other cities across the United States, slowly evolving into a national observance. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge officially endorsed the idea of Father’s Day, and it eventually gained more formal recognition when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a presidential proclamation in 1966, establishing Father's Day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June.