Discover what happened on September 11 in history as pivotal moments in American history, scientific achievements, cultural milestones, and events of profound national significance helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on September 11 in History?
On this day, ground was broken for the Pentagon, The Carol Burnett Show premiered on television, NASA made the first close encounter with a comet, and the September 11 terrorist attacks changed the United States and the world.
SEPTEMBER 11 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1609 – English explorer Henry Hudson, sailing for the Dutch, entered what is now New York Harbor while searching for a passage to Asia. He later sailed up the river that now bears his name.
1776 – Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge met with British Admiral Lord Richard Howe on Staten Island in an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate an end to the Revolutionary War.
1777 – British forces under General William Howe defeated George Washington’s Continental Army at the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania, forcing the Americans to retreat and leaving Philadelphia vulnerable to British capture.
1789 – President George Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton as the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury.
1883 – James G. Cutler received a patent for his mail chute, allowing letters dropped on upper floors of buildings to travel through a chute to a collection box below.
1897 – A major coal miners’ strike involving workers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia came to an end after approximately ten weeks.
1903 – The first automobile race was held at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, WI. The historic track is considered the oldest continuously operating motor speedway in the world.
1904 – The U.S. battleship Connecticut was launched in New York, NY.
1941 – Ground was broken for construction of the Pentagon in Arlington, VA.
1952 – Dr. Charles Hufnagel successfully implanted an artificial heart valve in a patient, an important milestone in the development of artificial cardiac valves.
1954 – The Miss America Pageant was televised nationally for the first time, with Lee Meriwether of California winning the crown.
1962 – The Grand Rapids Historical Commission was organized to help preserve and promote the history of Grand Rapids, MI.
1962 – The Beatles returned to EMI Studios in London and recorded another version of “Love Me Do,” this time with session drummer Andy White, along with “P.S. I Love You” and an early version of “Please Please Me.”
1967 – The Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS. The comedy-variety series would run for 11 seasons.
1970 – The last episode of TV’s “Get Smart” aired on CBS.
1971 – The Jackson 5ive, an animated series based on the popular musical group, premiered on ABC.
1974 – Little House on the Prairie, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, premiered as a regular series on NBC.
1974 – The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Mets after 25 innings in a game that lasted 7 hours and 4 minutes, one of the longest games in Major League Baseball history.
1977 – Bing Crosby and David Bowie recorded their unlikely holiday duet “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” for Crosby’s Christmas television special.
1982 – The USS Michigan, an Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine, was commissioned at Groton, CT.
1985 – Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose recorded career hit No. 4,192, surpassing the longstanding Major League record attributed to Ty Cobb.
1985 – NASA’s International Cometary Explorer passed through the tail of Comet Giacobini-Zinner, becoming the first spacecraft to make a close encounter with a comet.
1987 – The CBS Evening News went black for several minutes after anchor Dan Rather left the set when a U.S. Open tennis match ran long. The match unexpectedly ended, leaving CBS without its anchor ready to begin the newscast.
1997 – NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor reached Mars after a 10-month journey from Earth.
1997 – John Lee Hooker received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1998 – Congress publicly released Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr’s report concerning President Bill Clinton after receiving the material two days earlier.
1999 – The Wall Street Journal reported that Bayer had stopped putting cotton in its aspirin bottles, ending a practice that had begun decades earlier to prevent tablets from breaking during shipment.
2001 – Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes in coordinated attacks against the United States. Two planes struck the World Trade Center towers in New York City, a third struck the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and a fourth crashed near Shanksville, PA, after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers. The attacks killed 2,977 victims. (Read my blog about this awful day by clicking here.)
2012 – Militants attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, were killed.
2019 – Severe thunderstorms swept through the Grand Rapids, MI, area with damaging winds estimated at 65–80 mph and locally near 100 mph. The storms caused widespread damage, including tearing the roof from an apartment building in the Belknap Lookout neighborhood.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 11:
Robert Crippen – 89 years old (1937) – Captain, pilot, and astronaut
Brian De Palma – 86 years old (1940) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Lola Falana – 84 years old (1942) – Actress, singer, and dancer
Mickey Hart – 83 years old (1943) – Musician
Leo Kottke – 81 years old (1945) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Amy Madigan – 76 years old (1950) – Actress
Tommy Shaw – 73 years old (1953) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Sharon Lamb – 71 years old (1955) – Psychologist and academic
Tony Gilroy – 70 years old (1956) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Roxann Dawson – 68 years old (1958) – Actress and director
Scott Patterson – 68 years old (1958) – Actor and baseball player
John Hawkes – 67 years old (1959) – Actor
Anne Ramsay – 66 years old (1960) – Actress
Virginia Madsen – 65 years old (1961) – Actress
Kristy McNichol – 64 years old (1962) – Actress
Ellis Burks – 62 years old (1964) – Baseball player
Paul Heyman – 61 years old (1965) – Wrestling promoter, manager, and journalist
Moby – 61 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter, musician, and DJ
Maria Bartiromo – 59 years old (1967) – Financial journalist and television personality
Harry Connick Jr. – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter, pianist, actor, and talk show host
Paul Mayeda Berges – 58 years old (1968) – Director and screenwriter
Eduardo Pérez – 57 years old (1969) – Baseball player, manager, and sportscaster
Ted Leo – 56 years old (1970) – Singer and musician
Taraji P. Henson – 56 years old (1970) – Actress and singer
DeLisha Milton-Jones – 52 years old (1974) – Basketball player and coach
Ludacris – 49 years old (1977) – Rapper and producer
Ariana Richards – 47 years old (1979) – Actress and artist
Charles Kelley – 45 years old (1981) – Singer and musician
Ike Diogu – 43 years old (1983) – Nigerian-American basketball player
Jacoby Ellsbury – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player
Shaun Livingston – 41 years old (1985) – Basketball player
LaToya Sanders – 40 years old (1986) – Basketball player
Tyler Hoechlin – 39 years old (1987) – Actor
Michael J. Willett – 37 years old (1989) – Actor and musician
Farrah Moan – 33 years old (1993) – Drag queen and entertainer
Ross Colton – 30 years old (1996) – Professional ice hockey player
Zay Flowers – 26 years old (2000) – Football player
Joseph Fahnbulleh – 25 years old (2001) – Liberian-American sprinter
Nicholas Robertson – 25 years old (2001) – Ice hockey player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 11:
- Bravehearts Day: Bravehearts Day is an important event that brings people together to highlight the issue of child sexual assault. This day focuses on raising awareness and encouraging communities to take action to protect children. It uses the symbol of a white balloon to show support for survivors and spread a message of...
- National Hot Cross Bun Day: With the perfect blend of warm spices and soft, fluffy texture, this pastry is a seasonal treat that is sure to make your taste buds dance!
- International Cloud Appreciation Day: Clouds pass overhead every day, but many of us don’t give them a second glance. International Cloud Appreciation Day flips that script. It invites people everywhere to look up and really see what’s moving across the sky. Organized by the Cloud Appreciation Society, the event gathers photos and thoughts from around...
- National Drive Electric Month: While the gasoline car has certainly been the most popular in automobile history, many people don’t realize that some of the first cars invented ran on electric power! Experimental prototypes of these cars showed up in Europe in the 1830s, and the first viable option may have been in 1890...
- National SUP Day: Gliding on water, paddleboarding merges tranquility and fitness, creating an immersive experience in nature's embrace.
- Patriot Day: Honor those who died in the September 11th terrorist attacks, as well as those who risked their lives to save others, on the ground in New York and on United 93.
- National Make Your Bed Day: Use Make Your Bed Day as an opportunity to begin a new habit that will help your sleep, get your day started right, and set the stage for even more good habits.
- Libraries Remember Day: Libraries Remember Day shines a light on libraries' profound impact on our communities. Celebrated on September 11, it's not just a day. It reflects libraries' roles in fostering knowledge, understanding, and unity. Libraries aren't just about books; they are vibrant hubs of learning, offering everyone a place to discover, grow, and...
- No News is Good News Day: Take a break from the constant deluge of news and appreciate your own little world on No News is Good News Day, rather than the big world of bad news and stress.
- Stand Up to Cancer Day: Championing against a formidable adversary, we unite in unwavering strength to combat an illness that tests the very essence of our humanity.
- September 11 National Day of Service: Of course, it is right to grieve and remember the events that took place on this day in 2001, but an equal hope behind the day is that it can be redeemed – so that the terrorists do not have the last word and this instead becomes a day of...
- Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
- National Child Protection Week: National Child Protection Week is a fantastic opportunity to come together and focus on keeping our kids safe. It's all about raising awareness, having fun, and learning important safety tips. This week serves as a powerful reminder that everyone plays a role in protecting children. The theme underscores the importance...
- Rtveli: Rtveli is a vibrant grape harvest festival celebrated across Georgia. It is a joyful blend of hard work and celebration. It's a time when people unite to collect the fruits of their labor and honor the cultural heritage of winemaking that has been cherished for generations. The festival extends beyond...
- Heritage Open Days: Heritage Open Days is a vibrant celebration of England's rich cultural and historical tapestry. Held annually, this festival allows people to explore hidden gems and experience new activities, all free of charge. Volunteers and organizations across the country open their doors, offering unique insights into the nation's heritage. This event...
- Fiesta de San Pacho: Fiesta de San Pacho is a vibrant celebration that fills the streets of Quibdó with music, dance, and color. The festival honors Saint Francis of Assisi, blending Catholic traditions with Afro-Colombian culture uniquely and joyfully. As the day unfolds, the city becomes a stage where people showcase their rich heritage...
- National Waffle Week: National Waffle Week is a delightful celebration of one of the most beloved breakfast foods. It shines a spotlight on waffles and encourages people to enjoy this crispy, golden treat in all its forms. Throughout this week, waffle lovers are invited to explore different recipes and toppings, transforming their morning...
- Rosh Hashanah: Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year. It brings together moments of joy and reflection. Families gather, sharing meals filled with symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey, wishing for sweetness ahead. The shofar, a ram's horn, sounds during services, stirring hearts and minds. This blast calls for inner reflection...
- Zero Waste Week: The hope is that raising awareness during Zero Waste Week will draw attention to climate change, helping to create new environmentally conscious habits that will overflow into the other 51 weeks of the year! History of Zero Waste Week For more than 15 years, folks have been celebrating Zero Waste Week as...
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