Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.
Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in September 2020 (so you have time to write about them!)
We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book.
1 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
Lebanon (then known as Greater Lebanon) was created by France.
2 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II officially ended when representatives from Japan signed the formal surrender document on board the U.S. battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
3 Sep 1950 – 70 years ago
Italian racing driver Giuseppe (“Nino”) Farina became the first ever Formula One World Champion after winning the 1950 Italian Grand Prix.
4 Sep 1870 – 150 years ago
French Emperor Napoleon III was deposed and went into exile in England, and the French Third Republic was proclaimed.
5 Sep 1970 to 8 Oct 1971 – 50 years ago
Vietnam War – Operation Jefferson Glenn. The last major American operation of the war. U.S./South Vietnamese victory.
6 Sep 1620 – 400 years ago
102 English Puritans (now known as the Pilgrims) set sail aboard the Mayflower from Plymouth, England for a new life in America. After a perilous journey they landed in what is now Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts on 11th November. They had intended landing in Virginia but were unable to reach it because of heavy seas.
7 Sep 1940 to 11 May 1941 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Blitz. Nazi Germany launched a sustained 8-month aerial attack on British cities in an attempt to destroy its war production capabilities. The campaign began with 57 nights of continuous bombing raids on London. German strategic failure.
8 Sep 2000 – 20 years ago
UK fuel protests. Road hauliers blockaded oil refineries across the country to protest against the rising cost of fuel for vehicles. Within days, disruption was widespread and petrol stations ran out of fuel. (The protest ended on 14th September. Fuel supplies began to be restored by the 16th.)
9 Sep 1895 – 125 years ago
The American Bowling Congress was formed. It codified all tenpin bowling standards, rules and regulations. In 2005 it merged with other bowling organizations to form the United States Bowling Congress.
10 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Vidkun Quisling was convicted of collaborating with Nazi Germany during WWII, and numerous other crimes. He was sentenced to death, and executed on 24th October.
11 Sep 1895 – 125 years ago
The original FA Cup was stolen from the window of a shoe shop in Birmingham, England. It was never seen again. Its official name is the Football Association Challenge Cup.
12 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
The Lascaux Caves in France were discovered by four teenagers. The caves contained well-preserved 17,000-year-old Paleolithic wall paintings.
13 Sep 1970 – 50 years ago
The first New York City Marathon. 127 competitors ran laps around Central Park. The present course was first run in 1976.
14 Sep 1960 – 60 years ago
OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) was founded by Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
15 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Battle of Britain – the turning point. The German Luftwaffe sustained heavy losses. On 17th September Hitler abandoned his plan to invade Britain (Operation Sea Lion) after reaching the conclusion that the operation was not viable.
16 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
Wall Street bombing. A terrorist bomb in a horse‐drawn wagon exploded near the U.S. Assay Office and J. P. Morgan building in Wall Street, New York City, USA. At least 38 people were killed and 300 – 400 injured.
17 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: Nazi Germany passed a law which entitled them to seize any valuable possessions from Jews in Germany and German-occupied territories.
18 Sep 1870 – 150 years ago
Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA was discovered and named by members of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. (In the early days, Old Faithful often suffered the indignity of being used for doing laundry. Cotton and linen items placed in it during its quiescent phase were ejected thoroughly washed when it erupted. But woollen items were torn to shreds.)
19 Sep 1960 – 60 years ago
Traffic wardens began operating in London.
20 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
Operation Paperclip: Seven German rocket scientists arrived in the USA after being recruited to help develop its ballistic missile and rocket programs. Among them was Werner von Braun, the “Father of Rocket Science.”
21 Sep 1995 – 25 years ago
The Hindu milk miracle, India. Statues of the elephant‐headed Hindu god Ganesh began drinking milk when spoonfuls were placed near their mouths. The phenomenon ended after 24 hours.
22 Sep 1955 – 65 years ago
Britain’s first independent television channel ITV was launched, ending the BBC’s monopoly and broadcasting Britain’s first television commercials. (Initially only viewers in London could receive ITV. Regional franchises were rolled out across the whole country by 1965.) The first issue of the weekly TV listings magazine TV Times was published on 20th September.
23 Sep 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Prosper Merimée, French writer, archeologist and historian. Best known for his novellas, especially Carmen, which was the basis for Bizet’s opera of the same name.
24 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Hans Geiger, German physicist. Best known for co-inventing the Geiger counter, which measures levels of ionizing radiation.
25 Sep 1970 – 50 years ago
The first episode of the musical sitcom The Partridge Family was broadcast on ABC television in the USA.
26 Sep 1820 – 200 years ago
Death of Daniel Boone, American pioneer, explorer, frontiersman, and folk hero.
27 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy. This military alliance marked the founding of the Axis Powers.
28 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
Black Sox scandal. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team were indicted for throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds after receiving money from a gambling syndicate. On 22nd October a grand jury implicated the 8 players and 5 gamblers. The criminal trial was held in June-July 1921, and all 8 players were acquitted, but were banned from professional baseball for life.
29 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
The first ready-made radio receivers went on sale to the public, at the Joseph Home Company department store in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
30 Sep 1960 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the popular cartoon series The Flintstones was broadcast on ABC television in the USA.
More anniversaries:
You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.