Discover what happened on September 28 in history as groundbreaking discoveries changed medicine, technological achievements pushed new boundaries, television favorites reached audiences, and remarkable events helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on September 28 in History?
On this day, U.S. Army aviators completed the first flight around the world, Alexander Fleming’s observations led to the discovery of penicillin, Betty Ford underwent breast cancer surgery, and SpaceX’s Falcon 1 became the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit.
SEPTEMBER 28 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1066 – William, Duke of Normandy, landed in England with an invasion force, beginning the campaign that culminated in his victory at the Battle of Hastings and the Norman conquest of England.
1542 – Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo entered San Diego Bay, becoming the first European known to reach the west coast of what is now the United States.
1787 – The Confederation Congress voted to send the newly completed U.S. Constitution to the states, directing state legislatures to call conventions to consider its ratification.
1789 – Congress asked President George Washington to recommend a national day of thanksgiving. Washington later proclaimed November 26, 1789, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
1835 – The Detroit Free Press began publication.
1850 – Congress abolished flogging as a form of punishment aboard U.S. Navy vessels.
1892 – Mansfield State Normal School and Wyoming Seminary played what is generally recognized as the first nighttime football game under electric lights. The game ended scoreless after darkness and poor visibility forced it to end early.
1912 – Muskegon High School defeated Hastings High School 216–0 in one of the most lopsided football games in Michigan high school history.
1922 – An automatic stop-and-go traffic signal was installed at the Fulton-Sheldon-Monroe intersection in Grand Rapids, replacing a manually operated traffic signal.
1924 – U.S. Army aviators landed in Seattle after completing the first flight around the world. The historic journey covered roughly 26,000 miles and took 175 days.
1928 – Around this time, Alexander Fleming observed that a mold growing in one of his laboratory cultures was killing nearby bacteria, leading to his discovery of penicillin.
1955 – The World Series was televised in color for the first time as the New York Yankees faced the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1961 – Dr. Kildare, starring Richard Chamberlain, premiered on NBC.
1961 – Hazel, starring Shirley Booth, premiered on NBC.
1963 – The animated television series Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales, featuring the voice of Don Adams, premiered.
1974 – First Lady Betty Ford underwent a mastectomy at Bethesda Naval Hospital after doctors discovered breast cancer. Her decision to speak openly about her diagnosis helped raise public awareness of breast cancer and encouraged women to seek examinations.
1980 – Carl Sagan’s landmark PBS science series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage premiered, bringing astronomy, evolution and the history of science to a huge television audience.
1983 – The Big Chill, about a group of former University of Michigan classmates reuniting after the death of a friend, opened in theaters.
1987 – Star Trek: The Next Generation, starring Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, premiered in syndication with the two-hour episode “Encounter at Farpoint.”
2001 – The comedy Zoolander, starring Ben Stiller as fashion model Derek Zoolander, opened in theaters.
2004 – The Federal Reserve began issuing a redesigned $50 bill featuring additional anti-counterfeiting features and subtle background colors.
2004 – Nate Olive and Sarah Jones arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border to complete the first known continuous hike of the 1,800 mile trail down the U.S. Pacific Coast. They started their journey on June 8.
2008 – SpaceX’s Falcon 1 successfully reached orbit, becoming the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to orbit Earth.
2009 – Apple announced that more than two billion apps had been downloaded from its App Store, just over a year after the store launched.
2015 – NASA announced evidence of hydrated salts in mysterious seasonal streaks on Mars, initially strengthening the theory that liquid water might occasionally flow there. Later research suggested the streaks may instead be primarily flows of dry sand.
2021 – No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s final film as James Bond, had its world premiere in London after numerous pandemic-related delays.
2022 – Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, FL, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, producing catastrophic storm surge, flooding and wind damage across southwestern Florida and becoming one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 28:
Stuart Kauffman – 87 years old (1939) – Biologist and academic
Warren Lieberfarb – 83 years old (1943) – Businessman
Richie Karl – 82 years old (1944) – Golfer
Marcia Muller – 82 years old (1944) – Journalist and author
Jeffrey Jones – 80 years old (1946) – Actor
Rhonda Hughes – 79 years old (1947) – Mathematician and academic
Vernee Watson-Johnson – 77 years old (1949) – Actress
Christina Hoff Sommers – 76 years old (1950) – Author and philosopher
John Sayles – 76 years old (1950) – Novelist, director, and screenwriter
Christopher Buckley – 74 years old (1952) – Satirical novelist
Steve Largent – 72 years old (1954) – Football player and politician
George Lynch – 72 years old (1954) – Guitarist and songwriter
Bill Cassidy – 69 years old (1957) – Politician and physician
Laura Bruce – 67 years old (1959) – Artist
Tom Byrum – 66 years old (1960) – Golfer
Jennifer Rush – 66 years old (1960) – Singer-songwriter
Gregory Jbara – 65 years old (1961) – Actor and singer
Quentin Kawānanakoa – 65 years old (1961) – Lawyer and politician
Anne White – 65 years old (1961) – Tennis player
Laurie Rinker – 64 years old (1962) – Golfer
Chuck Taylor – 64 years old (1962) – Journalist
Steve Blackman – 63 years old (1963) – Wrestler and martial artist
Johnny Dawkins – 63 years old (1963) – Basketball player and coach
Greg Weisman – 63 years old (1963) – Voice actor, producer, and screenwriter
Janeane Garofalo – 62 years old (1964) – Comedian, actress, and screenwriter
Maria Canals-Barrera – 60 years old (1966) – Cuban-American actress
Mira Sorvino – 59 years old (1967) – Actress
Moon Zappa – 59 years old (1967) – Actress and author
Ben Greenman – 57 years old (1969) – Journalist and author
Piper Kerman – 57 years old (1969) – Author and memoirist
Mike DeJean – 56 years old (1970) – Baseball player
Joseph Arthur – 55 years old (1971) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Dita Von Teese – 54 years old (1972) – Model and dancer
Brian Rafalski – 53 years old (1973) – Ice hockey player
Lenny Krayzelburg – 51 years old (1975) – Russian-American swimmer
Bonzi Wells – 50 years old (1976) – Basketball player
Young Jeezy – 49 years old (1977) – Rapper
Peter Cambor – 48 years old (1978) – Actor
Bam Margera – 47 years old (1979) – Skateboarder, actor, and stuntman
Taki Tsan – 47 years old (1979) – American-Greek rapper and producer
Marlon Parmer – 46 years old (1980) – Basketball player
Greg Anderson – 45 years old (1981) – Pianist and composer
Jerrika Hinton – 45 years old (1981) – Actress
Emeka Okafor – 44 years old (1982) – Basketball player
St. Vincent – 44 years old (1982) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Melody Thornton – 42 years old (1984) – Singer-songwriter and dancer
Ryan Zimmerman – 42 years old (1984) – Baseball player
Daniel Platzman – 40 years old (1986) – Musician
Dominic Waters – 40 years old (1986) – Basketball player
Hilary Duff – 39 years old (1987) – Singer-songwriter and actress
Jason Jordan – 38 years old (1988) – Wrestler
Olivia Jordan – 38 years old (1988) – Actress, model, television host, and beauty pageant titleholder
Hana Mae Lee – 38 years old (1988) – Actress, model, and fashion designer
Darius Johnson-Odom – 37 years old (1989) – Basketball player
Elvyonn Bailey – 35 years old (1991) – Sprinter
Alex Landi – 34 years old (1992) – Actor
Caleb Martin – 31 years old (1995) – Basketball player
Cody Martin – 31 years old (1995) – Basketball player
Kayla Day – 27 years old (1999) – Tennis player
Frankie Jonas – 26 years old (2000) – Actor, singer, and songwriter
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 28:
- National Drink Beer Day: Sample a new beer, visit a brewery, or just gather friends together to share and discuss one of the world’s most popular drinks.
- World Rabies Day: Help educate yourself and others and raise awareness about the risk of rabies, and how to prevent this deadly and incurable disease before it takes hold.
- National Good Neighbor Day: Being friendly and helpful to those who live nearby can create a supportive and caring community that benefits everyone involved.
- International Poke Day: No, not that kind of poke—International Poke Day is about Poke, a Hawaiian dish growing in popularity. Visit a restaurant or make it at home to try it.
- National Family Day: Let's hear it for the people who love us most, those who we can turn to in any situation, and who give us a sense of belonging.
- National North Carolina Day: National North Carolina Day is perfect for celebrating the rich history of North Carolina. That’s not even to mention, it’s also worth remembering the accomplishments of its people. his day allows residents and visitors to the Tarheel State to explore the beauty of NC. It’s the best time to appreciate...
- Ask a Stupid Question Day: Curiosity doesn't kill the cat. In fact, it's a sign of courage, intelligence, and growth. Embrace the unknown and ask away!
- International Day for Universal Access to Information: Every year on September 28, the world celebrates the International Day for Universal Access to Information. This day marks a global commitment to ensuring everyone has the right to seek and share information. This celebration stems from the belief that access to information is a key to building fair societies...
- National Strawberry Cream Pie Day: Try your hand at making a classic strawberry cream pie yourself, or head to a bakery to get a professionally made one to share with friends and family.
- World Marmite Day: World Marmite Day brings people together over one strong flavor that splits opinion like no other. Some call it delicious, others can’t stand the taste—but that’s exactly what makes the day fun. It stirs up laughs, debates, and even pride. Friends tease each other, families argue over breakfast, and fans...
- Banned Websites Awareness Day: Banned Websites Awareness Day highlights a real problem: school internet filters often block more than they should. Many schools go beyond safety rules and restrict access to websites that help students learn. Tools like YouTube, social media, and blogs—used in modern classrooms—often get blocked. That leaves both students and teachers without...
- World Deaf Day: Being deaf doesn’t mean living in silence. It means experiencing the world in a different, powerful way. Deaf people communicate with their hands, faces, and movements. They share stories through signs and expressions that carry deep meaning. World Deaf Day shines a light on this rich way of connecting. It reminds...
- National Self-Awareness Day: Self-awareness means knowing what’s going on inside you—your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s the ability to notice your mood without getting swept away by it. This kind of attention helps you pause before reacting. You start to catch what fuels stress or lifts your energy. National Self-Awareness Day highlights that skill...
- Fairtrade Fortnight: Supporting Fairtrade, means contributing to a more sustainable and equitable global market. Plus, you get to enjoy some delicious products!
- Fish Tank Floorshow Night: Fish Tank Floorshow Night is an evening dedicated to making your aquarium the star of the show. Instead of quietly admiring fish from afar, people gather to celebrate these aquatic creatures through creative displays, music, and even dancing. The idea is to highlight the vibrant, colorful world within the tank...
- Czech Statehood Day: Czech Statehood Day, also known as St. Wenceslas Day, is a significant celebration in the Czech Republic. It honors national pride and unity and reflects on the deep roots of Czech identity. Across the country, people come together to recognize this special occasion, which holds a unique place in the...
- 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...
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Join an event, forum, or exhibition for Hispanic Heritage Month, and appreciate the art, history, and cultural offerings of this rich and expansive heritage.
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