What Happened on September 8?

September 8 is International Literacy Day — a United Nations observance celebrating reading and writing for all — on the same date Star Trek premiered in 1966, Michelangelo’s David was unveiled in 1504, and New Amsterdam became New York in 1664.

• 1504 — Michelangelo’s David is unveiled in Florence

  On September 8, 1504, Michelangelo’s statue of David was unveiled in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria. Read the full story →

• 1565 — St. Augustine, Florida, is founded

  On September 8, 1565, Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine — the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental United States. Read the full story →

• 1664 — New Amsterdam becomes New York

  On September 8, 1664, the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam to the English, who renamed it New York. Read the full story →

• 1900 — The Great Galveston Hurricane strikes Texas

  On September 8, 1900, a catastrophic hurricane devastated Galveston, Texas — the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Read the full story →

• 1966 — Star Trek premieres on television

  On September 8, 1966, Star Trek debuted on NBC — a sci-fi series that imagined a diverse crew exploring the galaxy. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Pink (Alecia Moore) (1979) · Bernie Sanders (1941) · Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) · Jonathan Taylor Thomas (1981)

Days & observances

International Literacy Day · National Ampersand Day · Star Trek Day · National Date Nut Bread Day