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 →

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