Sept. 15
Today in history
Today is Sept. 15. On this day in:
1858: The Overland Mail Company launched the first transcontinental mail service to San Francisco, initiating the government’s mail delivery across the nation. Funded by Congress, this service aimed to deliver mail from St. Louis to San Francisco biweekly in under 25 days.
1862: In the Civil War’s Maryland campaign, Confederate troops led by Maj. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson seized Harpers Ferry, leading to the war’s largest surrender, with over 12,000 Union soldiers captured. The Confederates encircled and bombarded the Union stronghold, forcing its capitulation.
1935: The Nuremberg Laws, enacted at a Reichstag session during the Nuremberg Rally, codified Nazi racial ideology into law,
notably through measures like the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor, which prohibited unions between Jews and Germans. Additionally, the Reich Citizenship Law stripped Jews of German citizenship, solidifying their exclusion from the nation’s civic life.
1954: Marilyn Monroe filmed the legendary skirt scene for “The Seven Year Itch” on a New York City street, drawing a throng of spectators and media. The scene, capturing Monroe’s dress billowing as she stood over a subway grate, became one of the most iconic moments in film history. However, due to crowd noise, key parts were reshot in a studio in Los Angeles.
1959: Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC, marking the first time a prominent Soviet leader set foot in the United States. His arrival kicked off a series of meetings with President Dwight D. Eisenhower aimed at fostering “peaceful coexistence” and understanding between the two superpowers.
1962: “Sherry” by the Four Seasons reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the band’s first nationally released single and their first No. 1 hit. Written by Bob Gaudio, the song was originally titled “Jackie Baby” in honor of first lady Jacqueline Kennedy but was changed to “Sherry” after the daughter of Gaudio’s friend, New York DJ Jack Spector.
1963: A bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, during Sunday services, killing four young girls: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol Denise McNair. The racially motivated attack, carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan, intensified national outrage and was a catalyst for major civil rights advancements.
1978: Muhammad Ali reclaimed the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time, a first in professional boxing history, by defeating Leon Spinks in a rematch at the Louisiana Superdome. The match, known as the “Battle of New Orleans,” was attended by over 63,000 spectators and ended in a unanimous decision in Ali’s favor after 15 rounds.
1981: The John Bull locomotive, built by Robert Stephenson and Co., became the oldest functioning steam locomotive when the Smithsonian Institution ran it under its own steam. The commemorative run celebrated the locomotive’s inaugural journey on the same date in 1831.
2008: Financial services firm Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the largest bankruptcy ever, with assets worth $639 billion. This event triggered a massive upheaval in the global financial markets and signaled the intensification of the 2008 financial crisis.
– USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today in history, September 15
