On this day

21 September in history.

5 moments from 1897 to 2003: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

New York Sun. See File:TestataSun.jpg for masthead

1897

Yes, Virginia. Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon asked a newspaper if Santa Claus is real. The New York Sun's kind answer became the most reprinted editorial ever.

Wikipedia: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Photo: Defunct publishers / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 21 September

  1. Venció Magia Blanca

    1933

    Lucha libre

    Salvador Lutteroth founded professional wrestling in Mexico, the colourful lucha libre with its masked heroes.

    Wikipedia: Lucha libreWikipedia: Salvador Lutteroth

    Photo: Luis Alvaz / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  2. Photograph of J. R. R. Tolkien in the 1920s on leaving Leeds University

    1937

    The Hobbit

    J. R. R. Tolkien's story of Bilbo Baggins was published. "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

    Wikipedia: The HobbitWikipedia: J. R. R. Tolkien

    Photo: Unknown photo studio commissioned by Tolkien's students 1925/6 (private communication f… / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Page from volume 6 of the 15-volume Hokusai Manga (sketches collection)

    1999

    Naruto begins

    The first chapter of Masashi Kishimoto's manga Naruto, about a young ninja who never gives up, was published.

    Wikipedia: NarutoWikipedia: Masashi Kishimoto

    Photo: Katsushika Hokusai derivative work: AMorozov / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. Galileo (spacecraft)

    2003

    Galileo's final dive

    After 14 years in space, NASA sent the Galileo probe into Jupiter to protect its moons from any germs from Earth.

    Wikipedia: Galileo (spacecraft)

    Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.