Discover what happened on September 4 in history as groundbreaking inventions, historic achievements, memorable television moments, and technological innovations helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on September 4 in History?
On this day, Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Station began supplying electricity, Ford introduced the Edsel, Mark Spitz won his seventh Olympic gold medal, and Google was incorporated.
SEPTEMBER 4 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1781 – Los Angeles, CA, was founded by Spanish settlers. The settlement was originally known as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles. (Just “Los Angeles” is so much easier!)
1833 – Ten-year-old Barney Flaherty answered an advertisement in The New York Sun and became the first newspaper boy in New York City.
1882 – Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Station began supplying electricity to customers in lower Manhattan, launching one of the world’s first commercial central power systems.
1886 – Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to U.S. forces at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona, effectively ending decades of armed resistance.
1888 – George Eastman registered the trademark “Kodak” and received a patent for a camera that used roll film.
1893 – Beatrix Potter wrote an illustrated letter to a young boy featuring a mischievous rabbit named Peter. The story eventually became The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
1894 – Thousands of garment workers went on strike in New York City to protest sweatshop working conditions.
1907 – Grand Rapids, MI, police officer Henry Slater was fatally injured when he was struck by a rail car while working as a crossing officer at Bridge and Canal Streets.
1923 – The USS Shenandoah, the U.S. Navy’s first rigid airship, made its maiden flight from Lakehurst, NJ.
1950 – The first Southern 500 was held at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, becoming NASCAR’s first 500-mile race.
1951 – The first live coast-to-coast television broadcast in the United States took place when President Harry Truman addressed the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco.
1953 – The New York Yankees became the first Major League Baseball team to win five consecutive league championships.
1957 – Ford Motor Company introduced the Edsel. Despite an enormous promotional campaign, disappointing sales turned the Edsel into one of the most famous commercial failures in automotive history.
1967 – Michigan Governor George Romney said during a television interview that he had undergone “brainwashing” by U.S. officials during an earlier visit to Vietnam. The remark badly damaged his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
1971 – The Lawrence Welk Show aired for the final time on ABC. The program continued in syndication for another 11 years.
1972 – Three television game shows — The Price Is Right, The Joker’s Wild and Gambit — premiered on the same day. The Price Is Right would become one of television’s longest-running game shows.
1972 – American swimmer Mark Spitz won his seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics, becoming the first athlete to win seven gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
1995 – Xena: Warrior Princess premiered on television.
1995 – WCW Monday Nitro debuted on TNT, beginning a ratings rivalry with the WWF that became known as the “Monday Night Wars.”
1998 – Google Inc. was incorporated by Stanford University students Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The company would grow from a search engine startup into one of the world’s largest technology companies.
1998 – President Bill Clinton, speaking in Ireland, publicly apologized for the first time for his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, calling his behavior indefensible.
2000 – The animated children’s series Clifford the Big Red Dog premiered on PBS.
2002 – Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, launching a recording career that would make her one of the show’s most successful winners.
2006 – Australian wildlife expert and television personality Steve Irwin, known as “The Crocodile Hunter,” died at age 44 after being struck in the chest by a stingray barb while filming underwater.
2007 – Whoopi Goldberg made her debut as a co-host of The View.
2016 – Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis during a ceremony at the Vatican.
2018 – Amazon briefly reached a market value of $1 trillion, becoming the second publicly traded U.S. company to reach the milestone after Apple.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 4:
Ken Harrelson – 85 years old (1941) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Raymond Floyd – 84 years old (1942) – Golfer
Merald "Bubba" Knight – 84 years old (1942) – Singer
Gene Parsons – 82 years old (1944) – Singer-songwriter, drummer, guitarist, and banjo player
Jennifer Salt – 82 years old (1944) – Actress, screenwriter, and producer
Dave Liebman – 80 years old (1946) – Saxophonist, flute player, and composer
Dean Pees – 77 years old (1949) – Football player and coach
Tom Watson – 77 years old (1949) – Golfer and sportscaster
Doyle Alexander – 76 years old (1950) – Baseball player
Frank White – 76 years old (1950) – Baseball player and politician
Judith Ivey – 75 years old (1951) – Actress
Janet Biehl – 73 years old (1953) – Philosopher and author
Brian Schweitzer – 71 years old (1955) – Politician, 23rd Governor of Montana
Blackie Lawless – 70 years old (1956) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Khandi Alexander – 69 years old (1957) – Actress, dancer, and choreographer
Jacqueline Hewitt – 68 years old (1958) – Astrophysicist and astronomer
Drew Pinsky – 68 years old (1958) – Radio and television host
Kim Thayil – 66 years old (1960) – Guitarist and songwriter
Damon Wayans – 66 years old (1960) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Bobby Jarzombek – 63 years old (1963) – Drummer
John Vanbiesbrouck – 63 years old (1963) – Ice hockey player, coach, and manager
Guy Boros – 62 years old (1964) – Golfer
Jeff Tremaine – 60 years old (1966) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Fernando Rojas – 58 years old (1968) – Colombian-American producer
John DiMaggio – 58 years old (1968) – Voice actor
Mike Piazza – 58 years old (1968) – Baseball player
Richard Speight Jr. – 57 years old (1969) – Actor and director
Ione Skye – 56 years old (1970) – English-American actress
Craig Conroy – 55 years old (1971) – Ice hockey player and executive
Aaron Fultz – 53 years old (1973) – Baseball player and coach
Lazlow Jones – 53 years old (1973) – Radio presenter, producer and screenwriter
Kia Stevens – 49 years old (1977) – Wrestler
Wes Bentley – 48 years old (1978) – Actor and producer
Terence Newman – 48 years old (1978) – Football player
Max Greenfield – 47 years old (1979) – Actor
Pat Neshek – 46 years old (1980) – Baseball player
Beyoncé – 45 years old (1981) – Singer-songwriter
Lacey Sturm – 45 years old (1981) – Singer-songwriter
Whitney Cummings – 44 years old (1982) – Comedian, actress, producer, and screenwriter
Kyle Mooney – 42 years old (1984) – Comedian, actor, and screenwriter
Xavier Woods – 40 years old (1986) – Wrestler
Wesley Blake – 39 years old (1987) – Wrestler
Marisa Kabas – 39 years old (1987) – Journalist
Adam Duvall – 38 years old (1988) – Baseball player
John Tyler Hammons – 38 years old (1988) – Politician
JJ Hickson – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player
Kevin Lee – 34 years old (1992) – Mixed martial artist
Mark Tuan – 33 years old (1993) – Rapper
Talitha Bateman – 25 years old (2001) – Actress
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 4:
- National Lazy Mom’s Day: Parenting is a demanding job, but it's okay to take a break. Resting and practicing self-care can recharge and make you a better parent.
- National Wildlife Day: National Wildlife Day highlights the importance of protecting our planet's diverse species. Celebrated on September 4 each year, it focuses on endangered animals and the ongoing efforts to conserve them. This day underlines the critical role of animals and plants in maintaining ecological balance and highlights the dangers they...
- National Macadamia Nut Day: Enjoy a healthy, wholesome, but incredibly tasty snack of roasted macademia nuts, generally imported from Australia, on Macadamia Nut Day.
- National Food Bank Day: With tens of millions of Americans living in food-insecure households and many more all over the globe, food banks have become a critical part of making sure families and individuals have access to the food resources they need every day. National Food Bank Day is here to celebrate this service...
- National Chianti Day: Savoring this rich, velvety red with deep flavors and aromatic complexity enhances any meal or celebration beautifully.
- International Taekwondo Day: International Taekwondo Day celebrates more than sharp moves and crisp uniforms. It’s a day where people from all walks of life come together for one shared reason—they love taekwondo. From kids learning their first stances to lifelong black belts, everyone brings something different. The energy in the air feels electric...
- National Eat an Extra Dessert Day: With the assumption that everyone is eating dessert on the regular, this day encourages people to embrace life a little more. It’s time to learn about and celebrate National Eat an Extra Dessert Day! History of National Eat an Extra Dessert Day Life can get a little bit hectic and...
- National Spice Blend Day: Open a cabinet in any kitchen, and you’ll likely find small jars packed with color and scent. That’s the heart of National Spice Blend Day—celebrating the flavor-packed mixes that turn plain ingredients into something special. These blends aren't just about taste; they bring cultures together through food. Each mix carries...
- National Newspaper Carrier Day: Thank your newspaper carrier for getting out every day, rain or shine to bring you the latest news from around the world in good old fashioned print.
- Janmashtami: Janmashtami is one of the most joyous festivals celebrated across India and by Hindus worldwide. The day honors the birth of Lord Krishna, a beloved deity known for his wisdom, playfulness, and divine teachings. Krishna's life symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, teaching values like love, compassion, and righteousness...
- National College Colors Day: Wear the colors of your favorite school sports team to show your support and loyalty as a fan, and let others know where your loyalties lie.
- Bring Your Manners To Work Day: Though you should be polite year round, take Take Your Manners to Work Day as an opportunity to make sure you’re treating everyone as well as you can.
- World Cogeneration Day: Efficiently generating power and heat concurrently, cogeneration offers a sustainable solution for energy demands and conservation.
- 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...
- 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...
- National Childhood Injury Prevention Week: Kids run, jump, explore, and push limits every day. That curiosity brings joy, but also risk. National Childhood Injury Prevention Week speaks to that very balance. It’s a reminder that while we can’t stop every scraped knee, we can prevent many serious injuries. It’s about everyday choices—like buckling a car seat...
- 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...
- Navasard: Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, a celebration that once united communities in festivities and tribute to their gods. Marking the start of a new cycle, it was a time when people believed divine forces came down to the Earth. With music, dance, and communal feasts, it reflected a...
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