September 17

Scott Winters September 17, 2025 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1787 – The Constitution of the United States of America was signed by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA. This monumental document established the framework of the United States government and is considered one of the most important legal documents in history.

1796 – President George Washington’s Farewell Address was read before the U.S. Congress.

1814 – Francis Scott Key finished his poem “Defence of Fort McHenry”, which would later become the lyrics to “The Star Spangled Banner”.

1862 – The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, occurred on September 17, 1862, during the American Civil War. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 22,000 casualties. The battle marked a strategic victory for the Union and led President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

1872 – The sprinkler system was patented by Phillip W. Pratt.

1908 – The Wright Flyer, flown by Orville Wright, with Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge as a passenger, crashed in Fort Myer, VA, killing Selfridge. He became the first airplane fatality.

1911 – The first transcontinental airplane flight started. It took pilot C.P. Rogers 3 days, 10 hours to fly from New York, NY to Pasadena, CA.

1920 – The American Professional Football Association was formed in Canton, OH. It was the precursor to the National Football League.

1930 – Construction on Boulder Dam (now called Hoover Dam) began in Black Canyon, near Las Vegas, NV.

1931 – RCA Victor Records demonstrated the long-playing (LP), 33-1/3 RPM phonograph record.

1932 – Sir Malcolm Campbell set a speed record when he reached 276.27 mph over a half mile.

1937 – Abraham Lincoln’s face was dedicated at Mt. Rushmore, in South Dakota.

1947 – James V. Forrestal, the first U.S. Secretary of Defense, was sworn into office.

1953 – Ernie Banks became the first black baseball player to wear a Chicago Cubs uniform. He retired in 1971 known as ‘Mr. Cub’.

1953 – The Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, LA, successfully separated Siamese twins. Carolyn Anne and Catherine Anne Mouton were connected at the waist when born.

1961 – The world’s first retractable-dome stadium, the Civic Arena, opened in Pittsburgh, PA.

1961 – The Minnesota Vikings debuted as a new National Football League team.

1962 – U.S. space officials announced the selection of Neil A. Armstrong and eight others as new astronauts.

1963 – The television show “The Fugitive” premiered on ABC.

1964 – TV’s “Bewitched” debut on ABC.

1965 – “The Smothers Brothers Show” premiered on CBS.

1965 – “Hogan’s Heroes” premiered on CBS-TV.

1966 – “Mission Impossible” debuted on CBS.

1968 – The first episode of “Julia” debuted on NBC. On the TV series, Diahann Carroll portrayed a widowed nurse raising a young son.

1972 – The TV series “M*A*S*H” premiered on CBS and ran for 11 seasons.

1973 – Illinois becomes the first state to make Martin Luther King Junior’s birthday a holiday.

1976 – NASA unveiled the first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, at ceremonies in Palmdale, CA. Although it never flew in space, the Enterprise was used for atmospheric test flights and helped pave the way for the operational shuttle fleet.

1983 – Vanessa Williams (Miss New York) became the first black Miss America, a title she is later forced to resign after naked photos of her surfaced.

1983 – Johnny Bench, of the Cincinnati Reds, retired after 16 years as a catcher.

1984 – 9,706 immigrants became naturalized citizens when they were sworn in by Vice President George Bush in Miami, FL. It was the largest group to become U.S. citizens.

1984 – Gordon P. Getty was named the richest person in the United States His fortune was $4.1 billion.

1984 – Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run. It was exactly 17 years from the day he hit his first major league home run.

1988 – The cartoon “Garfield & Friends” premiered on television.

1991 – The TV show “Home Improvement” debuted on ABC. It ran for 8 years. The series launched Tim Allen’s acting career.

1992 – “The Cosby Show” aired for the last time on NBC.

1994 – Heather Whitestone of Alabama was crowned Miss America and became first deaf woman to win the title.

2001 – Wall Street trading resumed for the first time since the September 11th terrorist attacks. It was the longest shutdown since the Depression. The Dow lost 684.81 points — its worst-ever one-day point drop.

2010 – The soap opera “As the World Turns” ended its 54-year run.

2011 – The Occupy Wall Street movement began in Zuccotti Park in New York, NY.

2013 – The video game “Grand Theft Auto V” earned more than half a billion dollars on its first day of release.

2014 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at an all time high of 17,156.

BIRTHDAYS:

Chuck Grassley – 92 years old (1933) – Lawyer and politician

Bobby Wine – 87 years old (1938) – Baseball player and coach

Carl Dennis – 86 years old (1939) – Poet and educator

Shelby Flint – 86 years old (1939) – Singer-songwriter and voice actress

Robert Graysmith – 83 years old (1942) – Author and illustrator

Jean Taylor – 81 years old (1944) – Mathematician and academic

Phil Jackson – 80 years old (1945) – Basketball player and coach

Gail Carson Levine – 78 years old (1947) – Author

Fee Waybill – 75 years old (1950) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Cassandra Peterson – 74 years old (1951) – Actress, television host, and producer

Kermit Washington – 74 years old (1951) – Basketball player

Harold Solomon – 73 years old (1952) – Tennis player and coach

Rita Rudner – 72 years old (1953) – Actress, comedian, and screenwriter

Bill Irwin – 71 years old (1954) – Wrestler

Scott Simpson – 70 years old (1955) – Golfer

Charles Martinet – 70 years old (1955) – Actor

Mike Parson – 70 years old (1955) – Politician, 57th Governor of Missouri

Thad Bosley – 69 years old (1956) – Baseball player and coach

Kevin Clash – 65 years old (1960) – Puppeteer

John Franco – 65 years old (1960) – Baseball player

Jim Cornette – 64 years old (1961) – Wrestling manager and sportscaster

Ty Tabor – 64 years old (1961) – Rock singer-songwriter and guitarist

Paul Feig – 63 years old (1962) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Dustin Nguyen – 63 years old (1962) – Vietnamese-American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

BeBe Winans – 63 years old (1962) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Masahiro Chono – 62 years old (1963) – American-Japanese wrestler and manager

James Urbaniak – 62 years old (1963) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter

Kyle Chandler – 60 years old (1965) – Actor

Guy Picciotto – 60 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Bryan Singer – 60 years old (1965) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Doug E. Fresh – 59 years old (1966) – Rapper and producer

Michael Carbajal – 58 years old (1967) – Boxer

Malik Yoba – 58 years old (1967) – Actor

Anastacia – 57 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter

Cheryl Strayed – 57 years old (1968) – Author

Matthew Settle – 56 years old (1969) – Actor

Paul Varelans – 56 years old (1969) – MMA fighter and wrestler

Nate Berkus – 54 years old (1971) – Interior designer and television host

Bobby Lee – 54 years old (1971) – Actor and comedian

Nona Gaye – 51 years old (1974) – Singer, model, and actress

Rasheed Wallace – 51 years old (1974) – Basketball player and coach

Jimmie Johnson – 50 years old (1975) – Race car driver

Sam Esmail – 48 years old (1977) – Screenwriter

Akin Ayodele – 46 years old (1979) – Football player

Billy Miller – 46 years old (1979) – Actor

Dan Haren – 45 years old (1980) – Baseball player

Casey Janssen – 44 years old (1981) – Baseball player

Mary DeScenza – 41 years old (1984) – Swimmer

Danielle Brooks – 36 years old (1989) – Actress

Kate Deines – 36 years old (1989) – Soccer player

Marcus Semien – 35 years old (1990) – Baseball player

Alfonzo McKinnie – 33 years old (1992) – Basketball player

Danny Ramirez – 33 years old (1992) – Actor

Denyse Tontz – 31 years old (1994) – Salvadoran-American actress and singer

Patrick Mahomes – 30 years old (1995) – Football player

Slayyyter – 29 years old (1996) – Singer and songwriter

Auston Matthews – 28 years old (1997) – Ice hockey player

TODAY IS:

Smithsonian Day:
International Country Music Day: Kick up your heels and get ready to sing along to the sounds of the heartland. Catchy lyrics and twangy guitars await!
World Manta Day:
World Patient Safety Day:
Responsible Dog Ownership Day:
National Pet Bird Day:
Australian Citizenship Day:
National Apple Dumpling Day: Getting tired of apple pie? Try apple dumplings instead, a delicious apple-filled treat containing cinnamon, nutmeg, and perhaps cloves or lemon zest.
National AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day:
National Professional House Cleaners Day:
Time’s Up Day:
National Table Shuffleboard Day: Find a local bar or rec center with a shuffleboard table and watch a tournament or learn to play the English game that dates back to the 15th century.
National Monte Cristo Day: A classic Club sandwich dipped in French Toast batter and crisped to perfection, try a Monte Cristo Sandwich at home, or visit a fancy restaurant.
National Arielle K. Sterrett Day:
National Pawpaw Day:
Constitution Day: Learn about the true origins and content of the United States Constitution to both honor the history of the nation and consider the values it was founded on.
National Neonatal Nurses Week : Providing compassionate care to newborns and support for families, these healthcare heroes play a crucial role in healthcare.
Rtveli:
Fiesta de San Pacho:
Heritage Open Days:
Healthcare Environmental Services Week:
Biscuits and Gravy Week:
National Assisted Living Week :
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.
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.