September 11, 2026 – Historical Events & Birthdays
September 11 marks important milestones in Arizona history, American transportation and military history, space exploration, sports and the arts—as well as the terrorist attacks of 2001 that profoundly changed the United States.
🏜️ Arizona & Southwest History
1936 – Hoover Dam begins producing electricity
President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a button in Washington, D.C., opening Hoover Dam’s valves and sending water through its generators for the first electrical power produced by the dam. The facility stands on the Arizona–Nevada border in Mohave County.
🌍 Politics & World History
1814 – Battle of Plattsburgh strengthens the American position
American naval forces defeated the British fleet on Lake Champlain while U.S. troops held Plattsburgh, New York. The combined victory forced the British army to retreat and weakened Britain’s position in peace negotiations during the War of 1812.
1941 – Construction begins on the Pentagon
Construction officially began on the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, as the United States rapidly expanded its military facilities before entering World War II.
1973 – Chilean armed forces overthrow Salvador Allende
Chile’s armed forces overthrew democratically elected President Salvador Allende in Santiago. General Augusto Pinochet became the dominant figure in the military regime that followed.
2001 – Terrorist attacks reshape the United States
Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners. Two struck the World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon and Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers resisted; nearly 3,000 people were killed.
🔬 Science & Technology
1942 – Emergency appendectomy performed aboard a submerged submarine
U.S. Navy Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Wheeler B. Lipes performed an emergency appendectomy on Seaman Darrell Rector aboard USS Seadragon while the submarine was submerged in the South China Sea.
1985 – Spacecraft passes through a comet’s tail
NASA’s International Cometary Explorer became the first spacecraft to encounter a comet when it passed through the tail of Giacobini–Zinner.
1995 – Pathfinder solar aircraft reaches record altitude
NASA’s remotely piloted Pathfinder solar aircraft climbed to approximately 50,500 feet, setting an altitude record for a solar-powered aircraft.
1997 – Mars Global Surveyor reaches Mars
NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor entered orbit around Mars, beginning a mission that mapped the planet in unprecedented detail and expanded scientific knowledge of its surface, atmosphere and magnetic field.
🎭 Culture & the Arts
1841 – Collapsible paint tube receives a patent
American portrait painter John Goffe Rand patented a collapsible paint tube that made oil paint portable and reusable, helping make outdoor painting more practical for later artists.
2001 – Broadway theaters close after the attacks
All Broadway theaters and box offices closed on September 11 as New York’s entertainment industry halted operations following the terrorist attacks.
2007 – 9-11/9-11 premieres
Artist Mel Chin’s animated film premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Center, with simultaneous linked screenings in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.
⚽ Sports
1915 – Eddie Plank wins his 300th game
Eddie Plank became the ninth pitcher—and the first left-hander—to reach 300 professional major-league victories when he defeated Newark while pitching for the St. Louis Terriers.
1918 – Red Sox complete a World Series championship
Boston defeated the Chicago Cubs 2–1 in Game 6 to complete the Red Sox’ championship. It remained the franchise’s most recent title until 2004.
1974 – Mets and Cardinals play a 25-inning game
St. Louis defeated New York 4–3 at Shea Stadium in a game lasting seven hours and four minutes. At the time, it was the longest major-league game played to a decision and included a record 175 at-bats.
1985 – Pete Rose becomes baseball’s career hits leader
Pete Rose singled for his 4,192nd hit, passing Ty Cobb during Cincinnati’s 2–0 victory over San Diego at Riverfront Stadium.
🎂 Notable Birthdays – September 11
1862 – O. Henry
American short-story writer William Sydney Porter became famous for works featuring surprise endings, including “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Ransom of Red Chief.”
1913 – Paul “Bear” Bryant
The Hall of Fame college football coach led Alabama to six national championships and became one of the sport’s defining figures.
1924 – Tom Landry
The innovative NFL coach led the Dallas Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships.
1935 – Arvo Pärt
The Estonian composer’s minimalist, spiritually focused works made him one of the most performed contemporary classical composers.
1940 – Brian De Palma
The American filmmaker is known for influential thrillers and dramas including Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface and The Untouchables.
1943 – Mickey Hart
The American percussionist and longtime member of the Grateful Dead helped expand the band’s musical and world-percussion traditions.
1967 – Harry Connick Jr.
The Grammy- and Emmy-winning American singer, pianist, composer and actor is known for jazz, popular music and film and television work.
1970 – Taraji P. Henson
The acclaimed American actor’s work includes Hustle & Flow, Hidden Figures, Empire and The Color Purple.
Summary
From Hoover Dam’s first electricity and landmark achievements in space science to major moments in baseball, September 11 carries a wide-ranging historical record. The date is also remembered for the 2001 attacks and for the many lives and institutions they affected.
