What Happened on September 18?

September 18 is National Cheeseburger Day — a juicy food holiday — on the same date George Washington laid the Capitol cornerstone in 1793, the U.S. Air Force was born in 1947, and Chile declared independence in 1810.

• 1793 — George Washington lays the U.S. Capitol cornerstone

  On September 18, 1793, President George Washington led a Masonic ceremony placing the cornerstone for the U.S. Capitol in the new federal city. Read the full story →

• 1810 — Chile forms a governing junta — launching its independence struggle

  On September 18, 1810, Chilean leaders in Santiago established a junta that began the long fight to break free from Spanish rule. Read the full story →

• 1851 — The New York Times publishes its first issue

  On September 18, 1851, the New-York Daily Times hit newsstands — the newspaper later known simply as The New York Times. Read the full story →

• 1919 — Fritz Pollard becomes a pioneering Black pro football star with the Akron Pros

  In 1919 Fritz Pollard starred for the Akron Pros, helping open professional football to Black athletes years before the modern NFL fully integrated. Read the full story →

• 1927 — The Columbia Broadcasting System radio network goes on the air

  On September 18, 1927, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) began network radio broadcasts that would grow into a major U.S. media company. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Greta Garbo (1905–1990) · Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) · Lance Armstrong (1971) · Jason Sudeikis (1975)

Days & observances

National Cheeseburger Day · World Water Monitoring Day · U.S. Air Force Birthday · World Bamboo Day