Discover what happened on September 10 in history as groundbreaking inventions changed everyday life, television favorites made their debuts, and remarkable achievements helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on September 10 in History?
On this day, Elias Howe patented his sewing machine, Swanson introduced the TV dinner, Jeopardy! began its syndicated run with Alex Trebek, and Polaris Dawn launched on a historic private spaceflight.
SEPTEMBER 10 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1846 – Elias Howe received a U.S. patent for his lockstitch sewing machine.
1942 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing as part of the World War II effort to conserve fuel and rubber.
1953 – Swanson introduced its frozen “TV Brand Dinner,” helping popularize the TV dinner in American homes.
1955 – Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, premiered on CBS television. The landmark Western would run for 20 seasons.
1955 – Bert Parks hosted the Miss America Pageant for the first time. He would remain its familiar television host through 1979.
1960 – Mickey Mantle hit what is considered the longest home run in the history of Detroit’s Briggs/Tiger Stadium.
1984 – The syndicated version of Jeopardy! premiered with Alex Trebek as host. Trebek would host the show for 36 years, until his death in 2020.
1984 – The Federal Communications Commission changed a rule to allow broadcasters to own 12 AM and 12 FM radio stations. The previous limit was 7 of each.
1990 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring Will Smith in his first major acting role, premiered on NBC.
1990 – Ellis Island reopened to the public as an immigration museum following a massive restoration project.
1992 – Bud Selig became Major League Baseball’s “acting” commissioner. (Six years later the post became official, and he remained in that position until January 2015.)
1993 – Bill Nye the Science Guy made its television debut, introducing a generation of young viewers to science through experiments, humor and a very enthusiastic theme song.
1993 – The X-Files premiered on Fox, introducing FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully and their investigations into unexplained phenomena.
1994 – The Magic School Bus premiered on PBS, with Lily Tomlin providing the voice of Ms. Frizzle and Little Richard performing the theme song.
1998 – Northwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement with its pilots, ending a strike that had grounded the airline for nearly two weeks.
2000 – Indiana University fired basketball coach Bobby Knight for what is called a pattern of unacceptable behavior.
2002 – The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History opened September 11: Bearing Witness to History, an exhibition featuring objects from the terrorist attacks one year earlier.
2009 – The television drama “The Vampire Diaries” premiered on The CW.
2020 – California’s August Complex became the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history. The massive fire complex would eventually burn more than one million acres.
2022 – Charles III was formally proclaimed King of the United Kingdom during a meeting of the Accession Council, two days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
2024 – Polaris Dawn launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a privately funded crewed spaceflight. During the mission, crew members conducted the first commercial spacewalk and traveled farther from Earth than any humans since the Apollo program.
2025 – Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, UT. He was 31.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 10:
Jared Diamond – 89 years old (1937) – Biologist, geographer, and author
Danny Hutton – 84 years old (1942) – Irish-American singer
Mike Mullane – 81 years old (1945) – Colonel and astronaut
Larry Nelson – 79 years old (1947) – Golfer
Charlie Waters – 78 years old (1948) – Football player, coach, and radio host
Don Muraco – 77 years old (1949) – Wrestler
Bill O'Reilly – 77 years old (1949) – Journalist and author
Rosie Flores – 76 years old (1950) – Singer and guitarist
Joe Perry – 76 years old (1950) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Steve Keirn – 75 years old (1951) – Wrestler
Bill Rogers – 75 years old (1951) – Golfer
Medea Benjamin – 74 years old (1952) – Activist, founder of Code Pink
Pat Cadigan – 73 years old (1953) – Science fiction author
Amy Irving – 73 years old (1953) – Actress
Clark Johnson – 72 years old (1954) – American-Canadian actor
Don Wilson – 72 years old (1954) – Kickboxer and actor
Pat Mastelotto – 71 years old (1955) – Rock drummer
Kate Burton – 69 years old (1957) – British-American actress
Chris Columbus – 68 years old (1958) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Alison Bechdel – 66 years old (1960) – Author and illustrator
David Lowery – 66 years old (1960) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Randy Johnson – 63 years old (1963) – Baseball player
Bill Stevenson – 63 years old (1963) – Drummer, songwriter, and producer
John E. Sununu – 62 years old (1964) – Engineer and politician
Big Daddy Kane – 58 years old (1968) – Rapper, producer, and actor
Johnathon Schaech – 57 years old (1969) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter
Paula Kelley – 56 years old (1970) – Singer-songwriter
Neera Tanden – 56 years old (1970) – Lawyer and policy analyst
Joe Bravo – 55 years old (1971) – Jockey
James Duval – 54 years old (1972) – Actor and producer
Ryan Phillippe – 52 years old (1974) – Actor and producer
Ben Wallace – 52 years old (1974) – Basketball player
Melanie Pullen – 51 years old (1975) – Photographer
Matt Morgan – 50 years old (1976) – Wrestler
Mike DiBiase – 49 years old (1977) – Wrestler
Jacob Young – 47 years old (1979) – Actor
Roger Mason Jr. – 46 years old (1980) – Basketball player
Trevor Murdoch – 46 years old (1980) – Wrestler
Mikey Way – 46 years old (1980) – Bass player and songwriter
Bonnie Maxon – 45 years old (1981) – Wrestler
Misty Copeland – 44 years old (1982) – Ballerina and author
Shawn James – 43 years old (1983) – Guyanese-American basketball player
Drake Younger – 42 years old (1984) – Wrestler
Neil Walker – 41 years old (1985) – Baseball player
Angel McCoughtry – 40 years old (1986) – Basketball player
Ashley Monroe – 40 years old (1986) – Singer-songwriter
Paul Goldschmidt – 39 years old (1987) – Baseball player
Alex Saxon – 39 years old (1987) – Actor
Jared Lee Loughner – 38 years old (1988) – Mass murderer
Ricky Ledo – 34 years old (1992) – Basketball player
Matt Rife – 31 years old (1995) – Comedian and actor
Troy Terry – 29 years old (1997) – Ice hockey player
Sheck Wes – 28 years old (1998) – Rapper
jschlatt – 27 years old (1999) – YouTuber and singer
Nick Cross – 25 years old (2001) – Football player
Gabriel Bateman – 22 years old (2004) – Actor
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 10:
- R U OK? Day: Extending genuine care, ensuring well-being, and fostering connections through thoughtful moments of empathy and support.
- National School Picture Day: National School Picture Day is a vibrant celebration marking the milestone of the new school year. Kids across the United States and Canada dress up, smile wide, and create lasting memories captured by professional photographers. These photos often become cherished keepsakes for families, showcasing each child's growth and changes year...
- National Port Wine Day: Rich, bold, and full of flavor, Port wine brings a touch of warmth and tradition to the glass. This special fortified wine comes from Portugal’s Douro Valley, a region famous for its steep hills and sunlit vineyards. Each bottle carries a depth that ranges from sweet and fruity to dry...
- National TV Dinner Day: Take a break from the chopping and dicing and baking and frying and sweating in the kitchen, and just enjoy a pre-made TV dinner, fresh and hot from the microwave.
- Toronto International Film Festival: If there's a film festival that truly captures the spirit of cinema, it's the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Celebrated annually, TIFF draws a global audience of filmmakers, actors, and fans. It's a place where emerging talents can shine alongside established stars. While it lasts, TIFF transforms Toronto into a bustling...
- National Anti-Junk Light Day: Imagine stepping outside at night and seeing stars twinkle clearly above. National Anti-Junk Light Day encourages us to think about the light we use daily. It focuses on the artificial light from screens and LEDs that can disrupt our natural sleep patterns. This day reminds us to be mindful of how...
- National Swap Ideas Day: Don’t keep your ideas to yourself. Get together with friends or family and swap ideas on anything and everything, and see what small and big changes you can make.
- World Suicide Prevention Day: Learn about the warning signs for suicide and help spread awareness so that those who are struggling can get the help they need on World Suicide Prevention Day.
- 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...
- 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...
- 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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