This Week in History: Sep. 11th-17th

Sept 11- 1857: Local militiamen in Southern Utah, aided by Native American allies, massacre some 120 men, women, and children en route to California from Arkansas. The “Mountain Meadows Massacre” remains one of the worst mass killings in US history. 1977: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System (VCS) makes its American debut. The game console came with two joysticks and two paddle controllers, along with a game cartridge. With an initial price of $199, the product revolutionized video gaming experience, allowing players to experience arcade games at home. Atari sold over 30 million 2600 consoles until it was discontinued in 1992. 2001: Al-Qaeda terrorists hijack four airplanes, crashing two into New York City’s World Trade Center, and another into the Pentagon outside Washington, DC. Passengers in the fourth airplane thwarted the hijackers, and the plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in these events.

nationalgeographic.com

2013: A large meteorite traveling at 40,000 mph crashed into the surface of the moon. The explosion caused a bright flash which could be seen from Earth and created a new crater some 130 feet wide.

Sept 12- 1940: Four teenagers followed a dog into a hole in the ground near Montignac, France and discovered drawings on cave walls, later determined to be 17,000 years old by archeologists. The Lascaux Cave Paintings were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. 1957: The US Supreme Court orders the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, leading the state’s Governor Orval Faubus to send National Guard troops to surround the school and prevent execution of the federal court’s order. The standoff was eventually resolved when President Dwight Eisenhower sent in paratroopers to enforce the court ruling on September 25 of that year. 1992: Swedish tennis player Stefan Edberg outlasts American Michael Chang 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in their 5:26 semi-final match at the US Open, the longest tennis match in that tournament’s history.

Sept 13- 1847: American forces capture Chapultepec Castle outside Mexico City, allowing General Winfield Scott to advance and capture the Mexican capital during the Mexican-American War. 1969: Hanna-Barbera introduces “Scooby-Doo” to American children watching Saturday morning cartoons, allowing “RUT-ROH” to enter the popular lexicon! 1993: Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas sign the Oslo Peace Accords, establishing a framework for peace between the Middle East rivals.

Sept 14- 1814: Francis Scott Key pens his poem “Defen(c)e of Fort M’Henry” after witnessing the battle during the War of 1812. His words would be put to music and become the US National Anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 1939: The first practical helicopter, the VS-300 designed by Igor Sikorsky, makes its initial flight in Stratford, CT. Engineers took the precaution of tethering the craft to the ground! 1960: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is created by Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela in Baghdad, Iraq.

Sept 15- 1794: Future US president James Madison weds future first lady Dolley Payne Todd at her sister’s home in West Virginia. 1835: Naturalist Charles Darwin arrives at the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador aboard the HMS Beagle. 1916: Tanks are used for the first time during World War I at the Battle of the Somme. 1928: Scottish physician Dr. Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin. 1997: “Google.com” is registered as a domain name on the World Wide Web.

Sept 16- 1620: The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England en route to North America with 102 Pilgrims and a crew of 30. 1869: Golf’s first official hole-in-one is recorded by Young Tom Morris on #8 at Prestwick Golf Club during the Open Championship. 1908: Carriage-maker William Durant founds General Motors in Flint, MI. 1997: Apple Computers, Inc. names co-founder Steve Jobs as interim CEO.

Sept 17- 1683: Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek reports the existence of bacteria, observed using his single lens microscope. He referred to the organisms as “animalcula” in his letter to the Royal Society of London! 1787: The US Constitution is approved by acclamation and signed by delegates representing 12 of the 13 colonies, and sent to each state legislature for approval. 1972: The weekly television program “M*A*S*H,” based on the movie of the same name, debuts on CBS. It would remain one of the most popular programs in television history for the next 11 years. 1976: NASA unveils its first Space Shuttle, the USS Enterprise, with cast members and the creator of the television program “Star Trek” in attendance. 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin, and US President Jimmy Carter sign the Camp David Accords, establishing peaceful relations between Egypt and Israel.