Today in History graphic for September 9 featuring the Harvard Mark II computer bug, Elvis Presley's first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and the Sega Dreamcast.

September 9 in History: The First Computer Bug, Elvis on “Ed Sullivan” & Dreamcast Debuts

Scott Winters September 9, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on September 9 in history as historic milestones shaped the nation, technological breakthroughs changed everyday life, and unforgettable moments in entertainment and popular culture helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on September 9 in History?

On this day, California became the 31st state, an actual “computer bug” was found inside the Harvard Mark II, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and the Sega Dreamcast debuted in North America.

SEPTEMBER 9 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1776 – The Continental Congress officially adopted the term “United States,” replacing “United Colonies” in its official proceedings.

1791 – The federal capital was officially named Washington in honor of President George Washington, while the surrounding federal district was named the Territory of Columbia.

1836 – Abraham Lincoln received his license to practice law in Illinois.

1850 – California was admitted to the Union as the 31st state.

1893 – First Lady Frances Cleveland gave birth to daughter Esther in the White House. Esther remains the only child of a U.S. president known to have been born in the White House.

1926 – The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was formed by RCA. The new radio network would begin broadcasting later that year.

1938 – The Detroit Lions began playing home games at Briggs Stadium, the home of baseball’s Detroit Tigers.

1947 – Engineers working on the Harvard Mark II computer found a moth trapped in one of its relays. They taped the moth into their logbook and jokingly recorded it as the first “actual” computer bug.

1956 – Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. An estimated 60 million viewers tuned in, helping cement Elvis as a national phenomenon.

1957 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first federal civil-rights legislation passed since Reconstruction.

1965 – Hurricane Betsy made landfall near New Orleans, causing widespread destruction and becoming the first U.S. hurricane to produce more than $1 billion in unadjusted damage.

1965 – The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development was established.

1966 – President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, giving the federal government authority to establish safety standards for motor vehicles.

1972 – Explorers discovered a connection between the Mammoth Cave and Flint Ridge cave systems in Kentucky, creating a mapped system more than 144 miles long. Mammoth Cave has remained the world’s longest known cave system ever since.

1986 – Ted Turner presented the first of his colorized films on TV’s WTBS.

1995 – Amtrak’s Broadway Limited, which had provided passenger rail service between New York and Chicago, made its final run.

1998 – Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr delivered his report and supporting materials from his investigation of President Bill Clinton to the U.S. House of Representatives.

1998 – Four paying tourists descended approximately 2½ miles beneath the Atlantic Ocean in a submersible to visit the wreck of the Titanic. Each reportedly paid $32,500 for the trip.

1999 – Sega released its Dreamcast video game console in North America, launching it on the memorable date 9/9/99.

2014 – Apple unveiled the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and introduced the Apple Watch, the company’s first new major product category since the iPad.

2015 – Queen Elizabeth II surpassed Queen Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history, a record she would extend to more than 70 years before her death in 2022.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 9:

Sonia Sanchez – 92 years old (1934) – Poet, playwright, and activist

Ron McDole – 87 years old (1939) – Football player

Dee Dee Sharp – 81 years old (1945) – Singer

David Rosenboom – 79 years old (1947) – Composer and educator

Freddy Weller – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Daniel Pipes – 77 years old (1949) – Historian and author

Joe Theismann – 77 years old (1949) – Football player and sportscaster

John McFee – 76 years old (1950) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Tom Wopat – 75 years old (1951) – Actor and singer

Angela Cartwright – 74 years old (1952) – English-American actress, author, and singer

Tom Foley – 67 years old (1959) – Baseball player and coach

Bob Stoops – 66 years old (1960) – Football player and coach

Kimberly Willis Holt – 66 years old (1960) – Author

Chris Coons – 63 years old (1963) – Lawyer and politician

Aleksandar Hemon – 62 years old (1964) – Bosnian-American author and critic

Skip Kendall – 62 years old (1964) – Golfer

Charles Esten – 61 years old (1965) – Actor, comedian, and musician

Dan Majerle – 61 years old (1965) – Basketball player and coach

Constance Marie – 61 years old (1965) – Actress

Kevin Hatcher – 60 years old (1966) – Ice hockey player

Adam Sandler – 60 years old (1966) – Actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter

B. J. Armstrong – 59 years old (1967) – Basketball player and sportscaster

Chris Caffery – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Mark Shrader – 59 years old (1967) – Wrestler

Jon Drummond – 58 years old (1968) – Sprinter and coach

Eric Stonestreet – 55 years old (1971) – Actor

Henry Thomas – 55 years old (1971) – Actor and guitarist

Mike Hampton – 54 years old (1972) – Baseball player and coach

Goran Višnjić – 54 years old (1972) – Croatian-American actor

Marcos Curiel – 52 years old (1974) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Joey Newman – 50 years old (1976) – Composer and conductor

Kyle Snyder – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player and coach

Kurt Ainsworth – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player and businessman, co-founded Marucci Sports

Shane Battier – 48 years old (1978) – Basketball player and sportscaster

Nikki DeLoach – 47 years old (1979) – Actress and singer

Todd Coffey – 46 years old (1980) – Baseball player

Michelle Williams – 46 years old (1980) – Actress

Julie Gonzalo – 45 years old (1981) – Argentine-American actress

John Kuhn – 44 years old (1982) – Football player

Kyle Davies – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Edwin Jackson – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Brad Guzan – 42 years old (1984) – Soccer player

Martin Johnson – 41 years old (1985) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

J. R. Smith – 41 years old (1985) – Basketball player

Michael Bowden – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Timothy Granaderos – 40 years old (1986) – Actor and model

Keith Yandle – 40 years old (1986) – Hockey player

Nicole Aniston – 39 years old (1987) – Actress and model

Will Middlebrooks – 38 years old (1988) – Baseball player

Alfonzo Dennard – 37 years old (1989) – Football player

Casey Hayward – 37 years old (1989) – Football player

Billy Hamilton – 36 years old (1990) – Baseball player

Haley Reinhart – 36 years old (1990) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Kelsey Asbille – 35 years old (1991) – Actress

Lauren Daigle – 35 years old (1991) – Contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter

Hunter Hayes – 35 years old (1991) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Crazy Mary Dobson – 33 years old (1993) – Wrestler

Gabby Williams – 30 years old (1996) – American-French basketball player

Jordan Nwora – 28 years old (1998) – Nigerian-American basketball player

Ricky Pearsall – 26 years old (2000) – Football player

Hailey Van Lith – 25 years old (2001) – Basketball player

Luke Hughes – 23 years old (2003) – Ice hockey player

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 9:

National Teddy Bear Day: Cuddly, cute, and comforting companions that always listen and never judge. These creatures are perfect for snuggles and make great gifts.
International Sudoku Day: Challenge your mind and improve your logic skills with this addictive puzzle game that has taken the world by storm!
Care Bears Share Your Care Day: Care Bears Share Your Care Day is a special time filled with joy and kindness, celebrated on September 9th each year. This day is about encouraging everyone to spread love and care, just like the Care Bears themselves do. They inspire us to share happiness, friendship, and support with those...
National Wienerschnitzel Day: Make your own deceptively simple Wiener Schnitzel out of pork or veal to add a delicious and wholesome new meal to your repertoire that dates back centuries.
Falsely Accused Day: Advocating for justice, supporting individuals caught in legal webs, and striving to rectify wrongful accusations with diligence.
Wonderful Weirdos Day: Dress weird, listen to weird music, watch weird movies and eat weird food to break through the monotony of life and bring some color and fun to your day.
International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, or FASD, happen when alcohol disrupts a baby’s growth during pregnancy. This can affect how the child thinks, learns, and behaves. Some may struggle with memory, attention, or social skills. Others might have trouble with school, relationships, or daily life. These challenges don’t go away, and many...
California Admission Day: California Admission Day marks when California joined the United States as the 31st state. This day honors the moment a fast-growing region became part of a larger union. People once joined parades and performances to celebrate strong growth and promise. State offices observed it as a holiday, though today many workplaces...
National When Pigs Fly Day: National When Pigs Fly Day is a fun and imaginative celebration. It encourages people to believe in the impossible and embrace creativity. The phrase "when pigs fly" means something unlikely to happen, but this day turns that notion on its head. It's a reminder that dreams, no matter how wild...
International Day to Protect Education from Attack: The International Day to Protect Education from Attack shines a light on a harsh truth: schools and students often become targets during conflicts. This day calls attention to the need for safe learning spaces, free from violence and fear. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding education, ensuring that children and...
International Box Wine Day: International Box Wine Day celebrates a fresh and fun way to enjoy wine without fuss or formality. Boxed wine has come a long way, earning a spot at everything from backyard barbecues to cozy nights in. With no corks to pop or glass to shatter, it’s all about easy sipping...
Technical Analysts Day: Technical Analysts Day celebrates the expertise of market analysts who analyze patterns and price changes to inform trading decisions. It honors those who use charts, volume, and trend tools to predict what might come next. This day sparks pride in those who read data and lines instead of news or earnings...
International Buy a Priest a Beer Day: Buy a Priest a Beer Day is a real thing, and it’s more thoughtful than it sounds. The idea is simple: take your local priest or pastor out for a drink and enjoy a relaxed chat. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Beer, coffee, soda—it’s the connection that counts. Stepping...
National Quiet Day: Amid the bustling world, finding solace in the absence of noise, where thoughts unwind, and tranquility whispers its soothing secrets.
Steak Au Poivre Day: Surprisingly simple and very romantic, Steak A Poivre, or simply pepper steak, makes a great dish for date night, a family meal, or just a nice meal for yourself.
Emergency Services Day: Emergency Services Day is an important event that honors the dedicated individuals who work in emergency services. This day celebrates the contributions of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency responders. These heroes often risk their lives to keep the public safe. It’s a day filled with activities and educational events...
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...
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...
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...