September 13 in History: Central Michigan Opens, “Scooby-Doo” Debuts & “Super Mario” Arrives

Discover what happened on September 13 in history as educational milestones, technological breakthroughs, entertainment favorites, and remarkable achievements helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on September 13 in History?

On this day, Central Michigan University opened its doors, Luna 2 became the first human-made object to reach the Moon, Scooby-Doo debuted on television, and Super Mario Bros. was released in Japan.

SEPTEMBER 13 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1501 – Michelangelo began work on his monumental marble statue David in Florence, Italy. He completed the masterpiece in 1504.

1788 – The Confederation Congress established a timetable for the first elections under the new U.S. Constitution and selected New York City as the temporary seat of the new federal government.

1814 – British forces began bombarding Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. When the American flag was still flying over the fort the following morning, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

1870 – Railroad service connecting Grand Rapids, MI, with Fort Wayne, IN, was completed, providing an important new transportation link between West Michigan and points to the south.

1890 – Construction of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was completed, helping create a major north-south rail route through Michigan.

1892 – Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute opened in Mount Pleasant, MI. The school, which began with 31 students, eventually became Central Michigan University.

1898 – Hannibal Goodwin received a patent for flexible transparent photographic film, an important development in the emerging motion-picture industry.

1899 – Henry Bliss was struck by an electric taxicab in New York City. He died from his injuries the following day and is considered the first person in the United States known to have been killed after being struck by an automobile.

1935 – Howard Hughes flew his H-1 Racer to a world landplane speed record of 352.3 mph near Santa Ana, CA.

1948 – Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first woman elected to serve in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

1949 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association was founded, establishing what became one of the world’s premier professional women’s sports organizations.

1956 – IBM introduced the 305 RAMAC, the first commercial computer system to use magnetic disk storage. Its disk system held roughly 5 megabytes and was about the size of a couple of refrigerators.

1969 – Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premiered on CBS, introducing Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma to Saturday morning television.

1970 – The first New York City Marathon was held entirely inside Central Park. Of 127 entrants, just 55 runners finished.

1971 – The World Hockey Association was formally organized.

1977 – General Motors’ Oldsmobile division unveiled diesel-powered versions of its 1978 passenger cars, helping launch a short-lived American diesel-car boom.

1985 – Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. for the Famicom in Japan, launching one of the most successful and recognizable video-game franchises in history.

1988 – Hurricane Gilbert reached a central pressure of 888 millibars, setting a record at the time for the lowest pressure measured in an Atlantic hurricane. The record stood until 2005.

1989 – Fay Vincent was elected commissioner of Major League Baseball following the death of Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

1990 – Law & Order premiered on NBC, beginning one of television’s longest-running crime-drama franchises.

1993 – Late Night with Conan O’Brien premiered on NBC, with Conan succeeding David Letterman in the network’s late-night time slot.

1994 – President Bill Clinton signed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a sweeping federal crime bill.

1998 – The New York Times temporarily shut down its website after hackers altered pages and posted unauthorized material.

2001 – Commercial airline flights began resuming in the United States two days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, while U.S. officials identified Osama bin Laden as the leading suspect.

2004 – Oprah Winfrey surprised all 276 members of her studio audience with new Pontiac G6 sedans during the season premiere of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

2004 – The federal ban covering certain semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity ammunition magazines expired after its 10-year sunset provision took effect.

2007 – The NFL fined New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 for illegally videotaping an opponent’s signals. The Patriots were also ordered to forfeit a draft pick.

2008 – Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston, TX, as a powerful Category 2 hurricane, producing devastating storm surge, flooding and wind damage along the Texas Gulf Coast.

2017 – The International Olympic Committee formally awarded the 2024 Summer Olympics to Paris and the 2028 Summer Olympics to Los Angeles.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 13:

Barbara Bain – 95 years old (1931) – Actress

Don Bluth – 89 years old (1937) – Animator, director, and producer, co-founded Sullivan Bluth Studios and Fox Animation Studios

Joel-Peter Witkin – 87 years old (1939) – Photographer

Mildred D. Taylor – 83 years old (1943) – Author

Peter Cetera – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer

Frank Marshall – 80 years old (1946) – Director and producer

Jim Cleamons – 77 years old (1949) – Basketball player and coach

John W. Henry – 77 years old (1949) – Businessman

Christine Estabrook – 76 years old (1950) – Actress

Jean Smart – 75 years old (1951) – Actress

Randy Jones – 74 years old (1952) – Pop and disco singer

Don Was – 74 years old (1952) – Bass player and producer

Joe Morris – 71 years old (1955) – Guitarist and composer

Vinny Appice – 69 years old (1957) – Rock drummer

Judy Blumberg – 69 years old (1957) – Ice dancer and sportscaster

Brad Hooker – 69 years old (1957) – English-American philosopher and academic

John G. Trueschler – 69 years old (1957) – Lawyer and politician

Mark Wiebe – 69 years old (1957) – Golfer

Keith Black – 69 years old (1957) – Neurosurgeon and academic

Bob Eggleton – 66 years old (1960) – Artist

Dave Mustaine – 65 years old (1961) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Peter Roskam – 65 years old (1961) – Lawyer and politician

Neal Lancaster – 64 years old (1962) – Golfer

Tavis Smiley – 62 years old (1964) – Talk show host, journalist, and author

Annie Duke – 61 years old (1965) – Poker player and author

Jeff Ross – 61 years old (1965) – Comedian, director, and author

Michael Johnson – 59 years old (1967) – Former sprinter and journalist

Tim "Ripper" Owens – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Stephen Perkins – 59 years old (1967) – Drummer and songwriter

Brad Johnson – 58 years old (1968) – Football player

Bernie Williams – 58 years old (1968) – Puerto Rican-American baseball player and guitarist

Dominic Fumusa – 57 years old (1969) – Actor

Tyler Perry – 57 years old (1969) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Travis Knight – 52 years old (1974) – Basketball player

Joe Don Rooney – 51 years old (1975) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Ro Khanna – 50 years old (1976) – Politician

Fiona Apple – 49 years old (1977) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and pianist

Swizz Beatz – 48 years old (1978) – Rapper and producer

Ben Savage – 46 years old (1980) – Actor

Angelina Love – 45 years old (1981) – Canadian-American wrestler

Rickie Weeks – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player

Colin Marston – 44 years old (1982) – Guitarist, bassist, and producer/engineer

Molly Crabapple – 43 years old (1983) – Illustrator and journalist

Nabil Abou-Harb – 42 years old (1984) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Baron Corbin – 42 years old (1984) – Wrestler

Derek Hardman – 40 years old (1986) – Football player

Sean Williams – 40 years old (1986) – Basketball player

Darren Waller – 34 years old (1992) – Football player

Sepp Kuss – 32 years old (1994) – Professional cyclist

Lili Reinhart – 30 years old (1996) – Actress

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 13:

• Supernatural Day: Get your nerdy friends together and start a Supernatural marathon, following the lives of demon and monster hunters Sam and Dean Winchester over 15 seasons.
• International Chocolate Day: From rich truffles to creamy spreads, indulge in the decadent taste of chocolate — the ultimate mood-booster.
• IRONMAN Wales: IRONMAN Wales is an exciting triathlon event held in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. The race transforms this charming seaside town into a vibrant hub of athleticism and community spirit. Competitors and spectators flock to witness and participate in one of the most challenging endurance events, featuring a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride...
• Programmers Day: Give a big thanks to the programmers who make the technological world run, from your favorite apps to video games and websites and much more.
• Roald Dahl Day: Donate to Roald Dahl’s Marvelous Children’s Charity and revisit some of your favorite childhood books like “James and the Giant Peach” and “Matilda”.
• National Peanut Day: These small, crunchy snacks come in many varieties, from boiled to roasted, are packed with protein, and have been enjoyed for centuries.
• Positive Thinking Day: Let go of the negativity in life and spend the day thinking positively, from morning affirmations to mindful reading, and see a boost in your mood and even productivity.
• National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day: Involve your kids in cooking and meal prep to teach them valuable lessons about making food…and hopefully to give yourself a break from all the cooking.
• National Celiac Disease Awareness Day: What would life be without bread and other glutens? For those with Celiac’s, that’s every day. Try going a day without gluten to see how difficult this diet is.
• National Hug Your Hound Day: Give your own hound a big hug on Hug a Hound Day, consider adoption, or volunteer at a dog shelter to make sure these dogs get the love they deserve.
• National Defy Superstition Day: Face your fears and put those superstitions to a test. Walk under ladders, open an umbrella indoors, step on a crack or gather a group of 13 together.
• Cachaça Day: Cachaça Day is a celebration of Brazil's most iconic spirit. Cachaça, often called the soul of Brazil, is a distilled liquor made from fresh sugarcane juice. The types of this spirit range from the bold flavors of unaged varieties to the complex notes found in those matured in various types...
• Uncle Sam Day: Americans, and those who appreciate the culture and history of the United States, can enjoy the celebration of this fun and unique holiday. It’s time for Uncle Sam Day! History of Uncle Sam Day The origins of referring to the United States as “Uncle Sam” go back to the early...
• National Twilighters Day: National Twilighters Day celebrates the global community behind Stephanie Meyer’s vampire saga. It brings fans together around stories of young love, mystery, and belonging. Fans from varied backgrounds feel drawn to these characters and the setting in Forks, Washington. Every fan gathering pulses with excitement, shared laughter, discussions, and heartfelt...
• National Hug Your Boss Day: Brightening the boss's day with an unexpected gesture that's warmer than a handshake can turn the office vibe up a notch.
• National Pet Memorial Day: Losing a pet leaves a void in our hearts. National Pet Memorial Day offers a special time to remember and celebrate these cherished companions. This day encourages pet owners to reflect on the joy and love their animals brought into their lives. It's a moment to honor their memory and...
• National Scooby-Doo Day: Scooby-Doo fans get their moment each year when a special day rolls in to honor their favorite crime-solving pup. The spotlight swings to that lovable dog who tackles spooky mysteries with snacks and teamwork. This isn’t just for kids—grown-ups dive in too, drawn by memories and laughter. There's something irresistible about...
• Folic Acid Awareness Week: Folic Acid Awareness Week focuses on the importance of folic acid, especially for those who are pregnant or may become pregnant. This B vitamin helps the body produce red blood cells and supports the development of the brain and spine in unborn babies. It’s most critical in the early weeks of...
• National Bald Is Beautiful Day: A smooth head can turn heads—and National Bald Is Beautiful Day makes sure it does. This day cheers on the bold look that stands out in a world full of trends. Whether someone shaves it all off or loses hair over time, going bald takes guts. And sometimes, that clean...
• Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day is about understanding congenital health problems in our pets. It tells a simple truth: some puppies and kittens arrive with physical or internal issues. These can range from cleft palates and limb deformities to invisible heart or organ defects. Pets can still thrive with early...
• Housekeepers Week: Housekeeping is tough and often thankless work, so make sure to give a big thank-you and even a small gift to the housekeepers who keep hotels and the like clean.
• 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 Neonatal Nurses Week : Providing compassionate care to newborns and support for families, these healthcare heroes play a crucial role in healthcare.
• 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...
• 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...
• National Assisted Living Week : When older folks who need a little help move into an assisted living facility, it can sometimes feel isolating. National Assisted Living Week is here to bring attention to the ways that communities can live in a more multi-generational manner, and honor those in all phases of life while promoting...
• Biscuits and Gravy Week: National Biscuits and Gravy Week offers a perfect opportunity for lovers of this delicious dish to pay it some well-deserved respect, or for some of the more inexperienced to learn more and discover some new flavors! History of National Day A decidedly American dish, biscuits and gravy are believed to have...
• European Heritage Days: European Heritage Days open doors across Europe, inviting people to explore places often hidden from view. From grand palaces to quiet chapels, these events reveal stories etched into stone and wood. Each year, around 70,000 events unfold across 48 countries, offering free access to cultural sites and experiences. It's a...
• Healthcare Environmental Services Week: Healthcare Environmental Services Week honors the crucial role of EVS professionals in keeping healthcare spaces clean and safe. These skilled workers use careful cleaning and disinfection to stop harmful pathogens. Their efforts help prevent infections that could harm patients, families, and staff. This week highlights their daily dedication, commitment, and...

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