September 21 in History: Yes, Virginia, The Hobbit Arrives & Monday Night Football Debuts

Discover what happened on September 21 in history as famous words captured the imagination, groundbreaking stories reached readers, television traditions began, and remarkable achievements helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on September 21 in History?

On this day, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” appeared in print, The Hobbit was published, Monday Night Football debuted, and NASA’s Galileo spacecraft ended its historic mission at Jupiter.

SEPTEMBER 21 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1784 – Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser began publishing daily editions, becoming one of America’s earliest daily newspapers.

1893 – Frank Duryea road-tested an experimental gasoline-powered automobile in Springfield, MA. Built from a secondhand carriage fitted with a gasoline engine, it became one of the earliest American-made automobiles. (The only surviving production Duryea is now at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.)

1897 – The New York Sun published its famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial in response to a letter from eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asking whether Santa Claus was real.

1937 – J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel The Hobbit was first published in Great Britain. Its success eventually led Tolkien to write The Lord of the Rings.

1948 – Milton Berle debuted as permanent host of NBC’s Texaco Star Theater. His enormous popularity during television’s early years earned him the nickname “Mr. Television.”

1957 – Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr as the famous defense attorney, premiered on CBS. The original series ran for nine seasons.

1968 – The Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 returned to Earth after flying around the Moon, completing the first successful round-trip flight from Earth around the Moon. Its passengers included two tortoises and other living organisms, which survived the journey.

1970 – ABC’s Monday Night Football debuted with the Cleveland Browns defeating the New York Jets 31–21.

1973 – The U.S. Senate confirmed Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State. The German-born Kissinger became the first naturalized U.S. citizen to hold the office.

1981 – The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Sandra Day O’Connor, 99–0, as the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

1989 – The U.S. Senate confirmed Gen. Colin Powell as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell became the first Black officer to hold the nation’s highest-ranking military position.

1998 – Will & Grace premiered on NBC, beginning its original eight-season run.

1998 – President Bill Clinton’s previously recorded grand jury testimony in the Monica Lewinsky investigation was publicly released and broadcast after Congress authorized its disclosure.

2001 – America: A Tribute to Heroes, a multi-network telethon benefiting victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, aired across dozens of broadcast and cable networks. The program featured appearances and performances by many of the biggest names in entertainment.

2003 – TNASA deliberately sent the Galileo spacecraft into Jupiter’s atmosphere, ending its 14-year mission. The spacecraft was destroyed to prevent it from someday accidentally contaminating Europa, a moon believed to contain a subsurface ocean.

2011 – Google opened its Google+ social-networking service to the general public. Google eventually shut down the consumer service in 2019.

2012 – Apple’s iPhone 5 went on sale, introducing a larger 4-inch display, LTE connectivity and the new Lightning connector.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 21:

Don Preston – 94 years old (1932) – Keyboard player and composer

Dick Simon – 93 years old (1933) – Race car driver

Dickey Lee – 90 years old (1936) – Pop-country singer-songwriter and guitarist

Diane Rehm – 90 years old (1936) – Journalist and radio host

Bill Kurtis – 86 years old (1940) – Journalist and producer

R. James Woolsey – 85 years old (1941) – Jr. , American scholar and diplomat, 16th Director of Central Intelligence

Sam McDowell – 84 years old (1942) – Baseball player

David Hood – 83 years old (1943) – Session bassist and trombone player

Jerry Bruckheimer – 83 years old (1943) – Film and television producer

Steve Beshear – 82 years old (1944) – Lawyer and politician, 61st Governor of Kentucky

Fannie Flagg – 82 years old (1944) – Actress, comedian, and author

Richard Childress – 81 years old (1945) – Race car driver and businessman

Kay Ryan – 81 years old (1945) – Poet and educator

Don Felder – 79 years old (1947) – Musician and songwriter

Stephen King – 79 years old (1947) – Author and screenwriter

Marsha Norman – 79 years old (1947) – Playwright and author

Artis Gilmore – 77 years old (1949) – Basketball player and radio host

Bill Murray – 76 years old (1950) – Actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter

Bruce Arena – 75 years old (1951) – Soccer player and manager

Thomas S. Ray – 72 years old (1954) – Ecologist and academic

Richard Hieb – 71 years old (1955) – Engineer and astronaut

Jack Givens – 70 years old (1956) – Basketball player and sportscaster

Marta Kauffman – 70 years old (1956) – Screenwriter and producer

Ricky Morton – 70 years old (1956) – Wrestler

Ethan Coen – 69 years old (1957) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Mark Levin – 69 years old (1957) – Lawyer, radio host, and author

Sidney Moncrief – 69 years old (1957) – Basketball player and coach

Rick Mahorn – 68 years old (1958) – Basketball player and coach

Dave Coulier – 67 years old (1959) – Actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter

Danny Cox – 67 years old (1959) – English-American baseball player and coach

David James Elliott – 66 years old (1960) – Canadian-American actor and director

Kelley Eskridge – 66 years old (1960) – Author and screenwriter

Nancy Travis – 65 years old (1961) – Actress and producer

Rob Morrow – 64 years old (1962) – Actor

Cecil Fielder – 63 years old (1963) – Baseball player and manager

Cheryl Hines – 61 years old (1965) – Actress

Faith Hill – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and actress

Ricki Lake – 58 years old (1968) – Actress, producer, and talk show host

Jason Christiansen – 57 years old (1969) – Baseball player

Billy Porter – 57 years old (1969) – Actor and singer

Rob Benedict – 56 years old (1970) – Actor, screenwriter, and musician

Melissa Ferrick – 56 years old (1970) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Samantha Power – 56 years old (1970) – Irish-American journalist, academic, and diplomat, 28th United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Alfonso Ribeiro – 55 years old (1971) – Actor, director, and comedian

Luke Wilson – 55 years old (1971) – Actor, director, and screenwriter

Jon Kitna – 54 years old (1972) – Football player and coach

Vanessa Grigoriadis – 53 years old (1973) – Journalist and author

Bryce Drew – 52 years old (1974) – Basketball player and coach

Doug Davis – 51 years old (1975) – Baseball player

Craig Thompson – 51 years old (1975) – Graphic novelist

Brian Tallet – 49 years old (1977) – Baseball player

Autumn Reeser – 46 years old (1980) – Actress

Nicole Richie – 45 years old (1981) – Actress, fashion designer, and author

Scott Evans – 43 years old (1983) – Actor

Maggie Grace – 43 years old (1983) – Actress

Greg Jennings – 43 years old (1983) – Football player

Joseph Mazzello – 43 years old (1983) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Reggie Nelson – 43 years old (1983) – Football player

Dwayne Bowe – 42 years old (1984) – Football player

Jason Citron – 42 years old (1984) – Businessman, co-founded Discord

Ahna O'Reilly – 42 years old (1984) – Actress

Ben Wildman-Tobriner – 42 years old (1984) – Swimmer

Wale – 42 years old (1984) – Rapper

Justin Durant – 41 years old (1985) – Football player

Lindsey Stirling – 40 years old (1986) – Violinist and composer

Jimmy Clausen – 39 years old (1987) – Football player

Ryan Guzman – 39 years old (1987) – Actor and model

Ashley Paris – 39 years old (1987) – Basketball player

Courtney Paris – 39 years old (1987) – Basketball player

Doug Baldwin – 38 years old (1988) – Football player

Jason Derulo – 37 years old (1989) – Singer-songwriter

Manny Harris – 37 years old (1989) – Basketball player

Al-Farouq Aminu – 36 years old (1990) – Basketball player

Ivan Dorschner – 36 years old (1990) – American-Filipino model and actor

Allison Scagliotti – 36 years old (1990) – Actress and musician

Christian Serratos – 36 years old (1990) – Actress

Devyn Marble – 34 years old (1992) – Basketball player

Devin Williams – 32 years old (1994) – Baseball player

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR SEPTEMBER 21:

• World Gratitude Day: Taking time to appreciate the little things can bring about big joy. Focusing on what you have instead of what you lack cultivates contentment.
• National Chai Day: With its aromatic blend of spices, this hot beverage is the perfect pick-me-up on a chilly day, warming your soul with each sip.
• Miniature Golf Day: You don’t have to have good golf form to enjoy putting around on a mini-golf course. Find a local (tiny) putting green and have fun with friends and family.
• Earth, Wind and Fire Appreciation Day: “Do you remember… the 21st night of September?” If you do, then you’re not alone! This catchy little phrase comes from the pop song titled September, a delightful little tune that makes everyone who hears it want to sing, dance – and remember – on this particular day! How to Celebrate...
• International Week of Deaf People: Promoting understanding and inclusion enhances communication, fosters empathy, and empowers those with hearing loss in our communities.
• Zero Emissions Day: Human beings struggle to breathe when the air around them is contaminated with pollution, smog, toxic chemicals, and other pollutants. The same goes for the planet! When emissions from human activity, such as greenhouse gases, are released into the air, they pollute the Earth’s atmosphere, making it harder for our...
• National Pecan Cookie Day: Impress all your friends and family with one of the tastiest desserts: pecan cookies. Like the old favorite pecan pie, but in a little circular cookie form.
• World Myositis Day: World Myositis Day highlights a group of rare autoimmune conditions affecting muscles. It raises public attention to how muscle inflammation can weaken people’s daily routines. It also notes how the disease may reach the lungs, heart, or skin. The day aims to boost knowledge among doctors and the public. That...
• Fairtrade Fortnight: Supporting Fairtrade, means contributing to a more sustainable and equitable global market. Plus, you get to enjoy some delicious products!
• Escapology Day: Go see a professional escapologist wriggle out of impossible situations, or find a safe, beginner-friendly way to practice escapology yourself and impress your friends.
• Small Pet Rodent Awareness Week : Embracing a tiny companion, discover joy in caring for a pocket-sized friend, adding warmth to daily life.
• National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day: National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day focuses on the crucial role of gut health in our pets' overall well-being. This special day highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy digestive system for cats and dogs. Gut health impacts their energy, mood, and immune function. Pet lovers come together...
• National Garage Condo Day: National Garage Condo Day is a special day that highlights the benefits and convenience of garage condominiums. These units provide a secure, private space to store vehicles and other items, making them an ideal solution for those needing extra storage. The day celebrates the innovative storage solutions these condos offer...
• National New York Day: The energy of New York has a day all its own. National New York Day celebrates everything that makes the state stand out—its bold ideas, its fast pace, and its endless mix of people and places. From upstate farms to city streets packed with yellow cabs, the whole region feels...
• National Opioid Awareness Day: National Opioid Awareness Day brings attention to a growing health emergency. Opioids, often used for pain relief, can quickly become dangerous. People may not realize how fast these drugs can take control. This day encourages open conversations, action, and support. It reminds us that understanding the risks helps protect lives...
• Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day: Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day brings attention to the often-overlooked telegraph poles that dot our landscapes. These tall, wooden structures are essential for supporting power lines, telephone wires, and internet cables. They are a critical part of our daily lives, ensuring we have electricity and communication services. This day encourages people...
• World Alzheimer’s Day: Raise awareness, donate time and money, and support the millions of families affected by the degenerative cognitive disease known as Alzheimer’s.
• International Day of Peace: Since the 1982 ringing of the Peace Bell at the United Nations HQ in New York, the International Day of Peace has been a day to both build and celebrate peace.
• Student’s Day in Argentina: Student's Day in Argentina is a special occasion that spotlights young people's energy and creativity. Students across the country gather to celebrate their shared experiences and the arrival of spring. This day transforms public spaces, especially parks, into lively spots filled with music, sports, and laughter. Groups of friends enjoy...
• Independence Day in Armenia: Independence Day in Armenia symbolizes the country’s hard-won freedom. It marks a crucial turning point in Armenian history when the nation embraced its identity as a sovereign state. The celebration goes beyond mere festivities, embodying the spirit of resilience and unity that defines the Armenian people. It’s a day when...
• ​Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week: Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week helps us imagine a new world. Picture a space where every car trip is a safe adventure - even for the tiniest tots. This is the vision that brought Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week to life. The week-long pivotal campaign raises a sad reality. We...
• National Eye Health Week: National Eye Health Week is a special event held annually to spotlight the significance of looking after our eyes. This week encourages everyone to focus on their eye health and understand the importance of regular eye checks​​​​. This observance aims to educate people about eye health and promote actions to safeguard...
• Sea Otter Awareness Week: Sea otters play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. It is so significant that a whole week, Sea Otter Awareness Week, is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about them. The week is packed with activities, from educational events and live streams to adoption drives and donation...
• 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 Older Workers Employment Week: National Older Workers Employment Week shines a spotlight on the contributions of Americans aged 55 and up who continue to make a difference in the workplace. Held annually during the last full week of September, this event calls attention to the unique skills and strengths these experienced employees bring. Many older...
• 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.
• National Indoor Plant Week : Plants have the power to bring green from the outside in, livening up almost any space and supporting a better connection between humans and nature. Enjoy and appreciate the beauty and wide variety of houseplants that can be found during National Indoor Plant Week and throughout the year! History of National...
• National Coding Week: National Coding Week is a time to celebrate and explore the world of coding. It brings people of all ages together to discover the creative and problem-solving power of programming. The week focuses on the skills needed in today’s digital world. It's an opportunity to unlock potential and encourage everyone...
• National Surgical Technologists Week: National Surgical Technologists Week spotlights a vital but often overlooked part of the medical team: surgical technologists, who work behind the scenes to ensure every procedure runs smoothly. Their tasks range from preparing the operating room to sterilizing instruments and even assisting during surgery. The week celebrates their essential role...
• ​Yom Kippur: ​Yom Kippur, often called the Day of Atonement, stands as the most sacred day in Judaism. It's a time when Jewish people reflect deeply, seeking forgiveness for past actions and aiming to start anew. The day encourages individuals to pause, consider their deeds, and make amends with both others and...
• Thinking of You Week: Surprising a loved one with heartfelt words in the mail can uplift spirits and remind them they're cherished beyond measure.
• World Reflexology Week: Highlighting the benefits of this holistic therapy promotes understanding of its role in enhancing well-being and relaxation.
• Farm Animal Awareness Week: Farm Animal Awareness Week highlights the importance of recognizing the lives of animals that provide food for us. This week aims to educate the public about the conditions these animals face and to promote better treatment. Many animals are kept in cramped, unsanitary spaces, which can lead to health problems...
• National Construction Appreciation Week : While construction workers have sometimes gotten a bad rap for being a bit rough around the edges, this is the industry that builds the nation's cities and towns from the ground up. With a whopping 8 million employees in the construction industry throughout the United States, this is a sector...
• Deaf Dog Awareness Week : Some estimates show that approximately 35,000 deaf dogs are living in the United States who were born deaf in both ears and more than 100,000 are deaf in just one ear. Many more will have become deaf throughout their lifetimes because of various circumstances. Deaf Dog Awareness Week is an...

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