What Happened on March 9?

March 9 gave the world Barbie at the New York Toy Fair in 1959 — and back in 1862, two metal warships banged cannonballs off each other in the first ironclad battle ever!

• 1862 — USS Monitor battles CSS Virginia in the first ironclad duel

  Two armored warships pounded each other for about four hours off Hampton Roads, Virginia — and wooden warships became history overnight. Read the full story →

• 1916 — Pancho Villa raids Columbus, New Mexico

  Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa attacked a U.S. border town — prompting America to send an army led by General John J. Pershing deep into Mexico. Read the full story →

• 1959 — Barbie makes her debut at the American International Toy Fair

  A teenage fashion doll named Barbie appeared at the New York Toy Fair — toy buyers were skeptical, but girls everywhere weren't: over 300,000 sold the first year. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512) · Yuri Gagarin (1934–1968) · Bobby Fischer (1943–2008) · Emmanuel Lewis (1971)

Days & observances

National Get Over It Day · National Meatball Day