What Happened on September 25?

September 25 is National Comic Book Day — celebrating panels and superheroes — on the same date Congress approved the Bill of Rights amendments in 1789, Sequoia National Park was created in 1890, and Harold won at Stamford Bridge in 1066.

• 1066 — King Harold II defeats Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge

  On September 25, 1066, England's King Harold Godwinson crushed a Norwegian invasion at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Read the full story →

• 1513 — Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches the Pacific Ocean

  On September 25, 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed Panama and sighted the Pacific Ocean. Read the full story →

• 1690 — America's first newspaper, Publick Occurrences, is published in Boston

  On September 25, 1690, Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick appeared in Boston — the first multi-page newspaper in British North America. Read the full story →

• 1789 — Congress approves the amendments that become the Bill of Rights

  On September 25, 1789, Congress approved twelve constitutional amendments — ten of which later became the Bill of Rights. Read the full story →

• 1890 — Congress establishes Sequoia National Park

  On September 25, 1890, Congress created Sequoia National Park to protect California's giant sequoia trees. Read the full story →

• 1981 — Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in as the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court

  On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor took the judicial oath as the first female Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Mark Hamill (1951) · Michael Douglas (1944) · Catherine Zeta-Jones (1969) · Will Smith (1968)

Days & observances

National Comic Book Day · National Lobster Day · National One-Hit Wonder Day · World Pharmacists Day