What happened in September 1989?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1989, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Sep 1🏛️ East Germans Allowed West – Hungarian and West German officials agreed on a plan to allow up to 20,000 East Germans to leave for the West in the coming days.
- Sep 2💻 First Laptop CD-ROM – Tandy's Grid Systems shipped the first CD-ROM drive designed for battery-operated laptops, enhancing data storage capabilities.
- Sep 3🏨 Taj Mahal Casino Opening – The billion-dollar Taj Mahal casino hotel is set to open next year, with Mark Grossinger Etess tasked to attract patrons.
- Sep 4🌍 Uganda Opens Parks – Uganda has established three national parks to protect wildlife and boost tourism after years of neglect.
- Sep 5🔬 New Solid Matter Form – Quasicrystals, once deemed impossible, are now central to global research on solid matter, marking a significant scientific breakthrough.
- Sep 6🎾 Evert Retires from Tennis – Chris Evert announced her retirement from professional tennis after a match against Zina Garrison at the U.S. Open.
- Sep 7🚀 Soviet Astronauts Board Mir – Two Soviet astronauts orbited Earth and prepared to board the space station Mir after a four-month hiatus in the Soviet manned space program.
- Sep 8🏛️ Dallas Concert Hall Opens – After nine years of construction and controversy, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas finally opens its doors to the public.
- Sep 9📚 U.N. Literacy Year – The U.N. launched International Literacy Year with a celebration, aiming to prioritize global literacy in the coming decade.
- Sep 10🌍 South Africa Votes – F.W. de Klerk's National Party gains majority support in elections, signaling a shift towards gradual reform from apartheid.
- Sep 11🌍 Hungary Allows Emigration – Hungary permits 7,000 East Germans to emigrate to West Germany, marking a significant moment in the summerlong exodus through the Communist frontier.
- Sep 12🔬 New Fusion Technique – Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory achieved high-temperature nuclear fusion, potentially revolutionizing energy production.
- Sep 13🏛️ Poles Approve Cabinet – The Polish Parliament confirmed the first Cabinet not controlled by Communists since the 1940s, marking a significant political shift.
- Sep 14📰 Multiracial Protest in Cape Town – Thousands marched in Cape Town, marking the largest anti-apartheid demonstration since the state of emergency was imposed over three years ago.
- Sep 15🌍 Namibia Guerrilla Chief Returns – Sam Nujoma, leader of the South-West Africa People's Organization, returns home to Namibia after nearly 30 years in exile.
- Sep 16🌍 South Africa Oil Ban – Singapore bans oil exports to South Africa, aligning with UN resolutions for an oil embargo against the apartheid regime.
- Sep 17🌍 Hungary's Defiance – Hungary's removal of barbed wire along the Austrian border symbolizes its shift towards the West and lifted travel restrictions.
- Sep 18🌍 Yeltsin Leaves for Moscow – Boris N. Yeltsin departed the U.S. after discussing democracy and ordering hypodermic needles for AIDS efforts in the Soviet Union.
- Sep 19🌪️ Hurricane Hits Puerto Rico – Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico, causing severe destruction across Caribbean islands, leaving at least eight dead and tens of thousands homeless.
- Sep 20💻 Tiny Radiator for Chips – Computer designers face overheating issues as they create more powerful chips for the next generation of supercomputers.
- Sep 21🚄 World's Fastest Train – France launched the T.G.V. Atlantique, the world's fastest train, achieving speeds of 186 mph from Paris to LeMans.
- Sep 22🌪️ Hurricane Hugo Hits – Hurricane Hugo struck Charleston, S.C., with 135 mph winds, causing extensive damage and power outages across the region.
- Sep 23🌍 Ozone Hole Discovered – A growing hole in the ozone shield above Antarctica has been reported, alarming scientists and environmentalists worldwide.
- Sep 24🌍 Lithuania Declares Independence – Lithuania's Legislature voted to declare the 1940 Soviet annexation invalid, paving the way for potential secession.
- Sep 25🌍 Chinese Exiles Unite – Chinese exiles and opposition figures established the Federation for Democracy in China, aiming to coordinate global opposition to the Beijing Government.
- Sep 26🔬 NASA Ends Unmanned Launchings – NASA launched its last unmanned rocket in Florida, concluding over 400 liftoffs, marking a significant shift in its space program.
- Sep 27🚂 Trains Roll Into Armenia – Freight trains began rolling into Armenia today, ending a monthlong blockade by Azerbaijan, according to official Soviet reports.
- Sep 28🌍 Johannesburg Desegregates – Johannesburg opened swimming pools and recreational centers to all races, advancing plans to desegregate public facilities.
- Sep 29🏛️ East Germans Rush Embassy – A surge of East Germans at the West German Embassy in Prague escalates the ongoing crisis of mass migration from East Germany.
- Sep 30🔬 Hormone Patented in Animals – Scientists at the Salk Institute patented a method for producing hormones in genetically engineered farm animals.
Happy Birthday! 1989 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1989 in real headlines. See the 1989 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: