Discover what happened on September 17 in history as historic documents shaped a nation, new organizations transformed American culture, technological achievements pushed new boundaries, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on September 17 in History?
On this day, the United States Constitution was signed, the Battle of Antietam became the bloodiest single day in American history, the organization that became the NFL was formed, and NASA unveiled Space Shuttle Enterprise.
SEPTEMBER 17 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1787 – The United States Constitution was signed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Thirty-nine delegates are represented among the signatures on the document, establishing the framework for the new federal government.
1796 – President George Washington dated his Farewell Address, announcing his decision not to seek a third term and offering advice about the future of the young nation.
1862 – The Battle of Antietam was fought near Sharpsburg, MD, during the Civil War. About 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing in the bloodiest single day in American history. The Confederate withdrawal gave President Abraham Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation five days later.
1908 – Orville Wright crashed while demonstrating a Wright airplane at Fort Myer, VA. His passenger, Army Lt. Thomas Selfridge, died from his injuries, becoming the first person killed in the crash of a powered airplane.
1911 – Calbraith Perry Rodgers departed New York aboard the Vin Fiz to attempt the first transcontinental airplane flight. After numerous stops, crashes and repairs, he reached Pasadena, CA, 49 days later. His actual time in the air totaled 82 hours and 4 minutes.
1920 – The American Professional Football Association was organized in Canton, OH. The league, headed initially by Jim Thorpe, changed its name to the National Football League in 1922.
1937 – Abraham Lincoln’s carved likeness on Mount Rushmore was formally dedicated.
1947 – James V. Forrestal was sworn in as the first United States Secretary of Defense.
1953 – Ernie Banks made his Major League debut, becoming the first Black player in Chicago Cubs history. Banks spent his entire 19-season career with the Cubs and became known as “Mr. Cub.”
1961 – The world’s first retractable-dome stadium, the Civic Arena, opened in Pittsburgh, PA.
1961 – The expansion Minnesota Vikings played their first regular-season NFL game, defeating the Chicago Bears 37–13.
1962 – NASA introduced its second group of astronauts, known as the “Next Nine.” The group included future first Moonwalker Neil Armstrong, along with several other astronauts who would play major roles in the Gemini and Apollo programs.
1963 – The television show The Fugitive premiered on ABC.
1964 – Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, premiered on ABC.
1965 – The Smothers Brothers Show premiered on CBS.
1965 – Hogan’s Heroes premiered on CBS and began a six-season run.
1966 – Mission: Impossible premiered on CBS, introducing television audiences to the Impossible Missions Force.
1968 – Julia, starring Diahann Carroll as widowed nurse Julia Baker, premiered on NBC. Carroll became the first Black woman to star in a weekly American television series in a non-stereotypical role.
1972 – M*A*S*H premiered on CBS. The acclaimed comedy-drama set during the Korean War ran for 11 seasons.
1973 – Illinois enacted legislation establishing a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., becoming the first state to do so.
1976 – NASA unveiled its first Space Shuttle orbiter, Enterprise, in Palmdale, CA. Originally slated to be named Constitution, it was renamed after the Star Trek spacecraft following a fan letter-writing campaign. Members of the show’s cast attended the rollout ceremony.
1983 – Vanessa Williams became the first Black woman crowned Miss America when she won the Miss America 1984 title. She resigned the title in July 1984 after unauthorized nude photographs taken before the competition were scheduled for publication.
1983 – Johnny Bench, of the Cincinnati Reds, retired after 16 years as a catcher.
1984 – Reggie Jackson hit the 500th home run of his Major League career—exactly 17 years after hitting his first.
1988 – The cartoon Garfield & Friends premiered on television.
1991 – Home Improvement, starring Tim Allen, premiered on ABC. The sitcom was set in suburban Detroit and ran for eight seasons.
1994 – Heather Whitestone of Alabama became the first deaf woman crowned Miss America.
2001 – U.S. stock markets reopened for the first time since the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 684.81 points, then its largest one-day point decline.
2010 – As the World Turns aired its final episode after a 54-year run on television.
2011 – The Occupy Wall Street protest movement began in New York City’s financial district, with demonstrators gathering around Zuccotti Park.
2013 – Grand Theft Auto V was released and generated more than $800 million in worldwide sales during its first 24 hours, setting a record for the video-game industry at the time.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 17:
Chuck Grassley – 93 years old (1933) – Lawyer and politician
Bobby Wine – 88 years old (1938) – Baseball player and coach
Carl Dennis – 87 years old (1939) – Poet and educator
Shelby Flint – 87 years old (1939) – Singer-songwriter and voice actress
Robert Graysmith – 84 years old (1942) – Author and illustrator
Jean Taylor – 82 years old (1944) – Mathematician and academic
Phil Jackson – 81 years old (1945) – Basketball player and coach
Gail Carson Levine – 79 years old (1947) – Author
Fee Waybill – 76 years old (1950) – Singer-songwriter and producer
Cassandra Peterson – 75 years old (1951) – Actress, television host, and producer
Kermit Washington – 75 years old (1951) – Basketball player
Harold Solomon – 74 years old (1952) – Tennis player and coach
Rita Rudner – 73 years old (1953) – Actress, comedian, and screenwriter
Bill Irwin – 72 years old (1954) – Wrestler
Scott Simpson – 71 years old (1955) – Golfer
Charles Martinet – 71 years old (1955) – Actor
Mike Parson – 71 years old (1955) – Politician, 57th Governor of Missouri
Thad Bosley – 70 years old (1956) – Baseball player and coach
Kevin Clash – 66 years old (1960) – Puppeteer
John Franco – 66 years old (1960) – Baseball player
Jim Cornette – 65 years old (1961) – Wrestling manager and sportscaster
Ty Tabor – 65 years old (1961) – Rock singer-songwriter and guitarist
Paul Feig – 64 years old (1962) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Dustin Nguyen – 64 years old (1962) – Vietnamese-American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
BeBe Winans – 64 years old (1962) – Singer-songwriter and producer
Masahiro Chono – 63 years old (1963) – American-Japanese wrestler and manager
James Urbaniak – 63 years old (1963) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter
Kyle Chandler – 61 years old (1965) – Actor
Guy Picciotto – 61 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Bryan Singer – 61 years old (1965) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Doug E. Fresh – 60 years old (1966) – Rapper and producer
Michael Carbajal – 59 years old (1967) – Boxer
Malik Yoba – 59 years old (1967) – Actor
Anastacia – 58 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter
Cheryl Strayed – 58 years old (1968) – Author
Matthew Settle – 57 years old (1969) – Actor
Paul Varelans – 57 years old (1969) – MMA fighter and wrestler
Nate Berkus – 55 years old (1971) – Interior designer and television host
Bobby Lee – 55 years old (1971) – Actor and comedian
Nona Gaye – 52 years old (1974) – Singer, model, and actress
Rasheed Wallace – 52 years old (1974) – Basketball player and coach
Jimmie Johnson – 51 years old (1975) – Race car driver
Sam Esmail – 49 years old (1977) – Screenwriter
Mary DeScenza – 42 years old (1984) – Swimmer
Danielle Brooks – 37 years old (1989) – Actress
Kate Deines – 37 years old (1989) – Soccer player
Marcus Semien – 36 years old (1990) – Baseball player
Alfonzo McKinnie – 34 years old (1992) – Basketball player
Danny Ramirez – 34 years old (1992) – Actor
Denyse Tontz – 32 years old (1994) – Salvadoran-American actress and singer
Patrick Mahomes – 31 years old (1995) – Football player
Slayyyter – 30 years old (1996) – Singer and songwriter
Auston Matthews – 29 years old (1997) – Ice hockey player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 17:
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
