Discover what happened on September 12 in history as pioneering journeys broke barriers, television favorites made their debuts, and remarkable achievements in aviation and space exploration helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on September 12 in History?
On this day, an early airplane soared over Grand Rapids, The Monkees premiered on television, Mae Jemison became the first Black woman in space, and NASA confirmed Voyager 1 had reached interstellar space.
SEPTEMBER 12 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1911 – Aviator J. Clifford Turpin of the Wright Brothers’ exhibition team made one of the earliest airplane flights over Grand Rapids, MI, flying a Wright Model B during the West Michigan State Fair.
1916 – Sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren completed a pioneering transcontinental motorcycle journey after riding from New York to California. Their trip helped demonstrate that women could serve as military dispatch riders and highlighted the campaign for women’s equality.
1922 – The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church voted to remove the bride’s promise to “obey” her husband from the church’s marriage ceremony.
1940 – Four teenagers discovered the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux in southwestern France. The spectacular Paleolithic artwork is believed to be roughly 17,000 years old.
1953 – Senator John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, RI.
1954 – Lassie premiered on CBS television. The beloved series would remain on television for 17 seasons. The final episode aired September 12, 1971 — exactly 17 years after the premiere.
1959 – Bonanza premiered on NBC. Filmed and broadcast in color from the beginning, the Western became one of television’s longest-running and most popular series.
1963 – The final original episode of Leave It to Beaver aired after six seasons.
1964 – President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation establishing Canyonlands National Park in Utah.
1966 – The TV show Family Affair premiered on CBS.
1966 – The Monkees premiered on NBC, introducing television audiences to Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork.
1970 – The cartoon Josie and the Pussycats debuted on CBS.
1972 – Maude, starring Bea Arthur, premiered on CBS as a spin-off of All in the Family.
1981 – The Smurfs made their American television debut as an animated Saturday morning series on NBC.
1983 – Austrian-born actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger became a United States citizen, 15 years after moving to the country.
1992 – Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on STS-47, NASA’s 50th Space Shuttle mission. Mae Jemison became the first Black woman in space, Mark Lee and Jan Davis became the first married couple to fly together in space, and Mamoru Mohri became the first Japanese astronaut to fly aboard a Space Shuttle.
1994 – Frank Eugene Corder crashed a stolen single-engine Cessna onto the White House grounds. Corder, the only person aboard, was killed.
2011 – The National September 11 Memorial opened to the public at the World Trade Center site in New York City, one day after ceremonies marking the tenth anniversary of the attacks.
2013 – NASA announced that Voyager 1 had become the first human-made object to enter interstellar space. Scientists determined that the spacecraft had actually crossed the boundary in August 2012.
2017 – Little Caesars Arena celebrated its official grand opening in Detroit, MI, with the first of six Kid Rock concerts. The new arena became home to the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 12:
Nellie Wong – 92 years old (1934) – Chinese American poet and activist
Henry Waxman – 87 years old (1939) – Lawyer and politician
Linda Gray – 86 years old (1940) – Model and actress
Maria Muldaur – 84 years old (1942) – Folk and blues singer
John Mauceri – 81 years old (1945) – Conductor and producer
Steve Turre – 78 years old (1948) – Trombonist and educator
Bruce Mahler – 76 years old (1950) – Actor and screenwriter
Joe Pantoliano – 75 years old (1951) – Actor and producer
Gerry Beckley – 74 years old (1952) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Nan Goldin – 73 years old (1953) – Photographer
Robert Gober – 72 years old (1954) – Sculptor
Scott Hamilton – 72 years old (1954) – Saxophonist
Wilfred Benítez – 68 years old (1958) – Boxer
Gregg Edelman – 68 years old (1958) – Actor and singer
Scott Brown – 67 years old (1959) – Colonel and politician
Deron Cherry – 67 years old (1959) – Football player and sportscaster
Evan Jenkins – 66 years old (1960) – Academic and politician
Amy Yasbeck – 64 years old (1962) – Actress
Greg Gutfeld – 62 years old (1964) – Television journalist and author
Vernon Maxwell – 61 years old (1965) – Basketball player
Darren E. Burrows – 60 years old (1966) – Actor
Ben Folds – 60 years old (1966) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Louis C.K. – 59 years old (1967) – Comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter
Pat Listach – 59 years old (1967) – Baseball player, coach, and manager
Larry LaLonde – 58 years old (1968) – Guitarist and songwriter
Paul F. Tompkins – 58 years old (1968) – Comedian, actor, and writer
Max Boot – 57 years old (1969) – Russian-American historian and author
James Frey – 57 years old (1969) – Author and screenwriter
Will Chase – 56 years old (1970) – Actor, director, and singer
Nathan Larson – 56 years old (1970) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Gideon Emery – 54 years old (1972) – English-American actor, producer, and screenwriter
Jennifer Nettles – 52 years old (1974) – Singer-songwriter
Lauren Stamile – 50 years old (1976) – Actress
Jeff Irwin – 49 years old (1977) – Singer-songwriter and producer
Benjamin McKenzie – 48 years old (1978) – Actor
Ruben Studdard – 48 years old (1978) – R&B, pop, and gospel singer
Jennifer Hudson – 45 years old (1981) – Singer and actress
Staciana Stitts – 45 years old (1981) – Swimmer
Sal Rinauro – 44 years old (1982) – Wrestler
Daniel Muir – 43 years old (1983) – Football player
Clayton Richard – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player
Emmy Rossum – 40 years old (1986) – Singer and actress
Freddie Freeman – 37 years old (1989) – American-Canadian baseball player
Andrew Luck – 37 years old (1989) – Football player
Kelsea Ballerini – 33 years old (1993) – Country pop singer
Druski – 32 years old (1994) – Comedian and actor
Colin Ford – 30 years old (1996) – Actor
Sydney Sweeney – 29 years old (1997) – Actress
Jerome Ford – 27 years old (1999) – Football player
Ziaire Williams – 25 years old (2001) – Basketball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 12:
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