Metropolitan Opera House Opens
On September 16, 1966, the Metropolitan Opera House opened at New York’s Lincoln Center, the largest repertory opera house in the world.
This Day in History
Birth of William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was born September 15, 1857, near Cincinnati, Ohio. To date, he’s the the only person to serve as both US president and chief justice of the Supreme Court.
America’s First Journalism School
On September 14, 1908, the University of Missouri School of Journalism became the first such school in the US, and only the second in the world. The school adopted a hands-on approach, known as the “Missouri Method.”
Founding of the APS
On September 13, 1886, a group of stamp collectors met in New York City to establish what would become the American Philatelic Society. Today the APS is the largest nonprofit stamp collecting organization with over 25,000 members.
Birth Of Superstar Athlete Jesse Owens
Born on September 12, 1913, Jesse Owens broke several track and field records and won four Olympic gold medals. He was ranked as the greatest athlete in the history of his sport.
Birth of Bear Bryant
Football star and coach Paul William “Bear” Bryant was born on September 11, 1913, in Moro Bottom, Arkansas. Over the course of his coaching career, he broke the record at the time for the most victories, with 323 regular season wins.
The Battle of Lake Erie
On September 10, 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry won an important War of 1812 victory on Lake Erie. That victory helped change the course of the war, leading to America’s absolute independence from Britain.
First Man on the Moon Stamp
On September 9, 1969, the US Post Office issued its first ever jumbo-sized commemorative stamp. Honoring the Moon landing, the stamp was produced in secret and wasn’t announced until a week before the Apollo 11 launch.
Pledge of Allegiance First Published
On September 8, 1892, Francis Bellamy’s Pledge of Allegiance was published in The Youth’s Companion magazine to promote patriotism among children. More than 50 years later, it became America’s national pledge.