Edited daily
American history, reported as it happened
Made for the 250thOn this day › September 21
What happened on September 21 in American history
September 21 is the 264th day of the year (the 265th in leap years). Patriot Compass has published 7 stories from September 21 spanning 1776 to 2001. Among them: in 1776, Fire sweeps British-held New York; a quarter of the city burns overnight; and in 1780, a British officer is caught near Tarrytown with Arnold's plans for West Point sewn into his boot.
1776
Fire sweeps British-held New York; a quarter of the city burns overnight
Flames broke out near Whitehall Slip and ran north through the night, taking Trinity Church with them.
1780
A British officer is caught near Tarrytown with Arnold's plans for West Point sewn into his boot
Three militiamen stop a stranger on the road and find the fort's defenses written out in his own hand.
1814Member story · 1776 Club
Drummond gives up on Fort Erie; the siege lifts after seven weeks
Disease and a failed midnight assault had already thinned his ranks by hundreds.
1942Member story · 1776 Club
Boeing's untested superbomber lifts off from Seattle; the Army has already ordered hundreds
Eddie Allen flies the XB-29 for the first time while factories are already tooling up to build it by the hundreds.
1964Member story · 1776 Club
The XB-70 Valkyrie lifts off from Palmdale on its first flight, the fastest bomber ever built.
Alvin White and Joseph Cotton fly the six-engine prototype to Edwards Air Force Base on its maiden flight.
1981Member story · 1776 Club
Senate votes 99-0: Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first woman on the Supreme Court
One senator missed the roll call and mailed an apology novel to make up for it.
2001
Every network goes dark to the same broadcast tonight; $200 million follows
ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox suspend their rivalry for two commercial-free hours of grief and music.
Read the full September 21 edition →
← September 20 · Every date · September 22 →