September 16 gathers stories of departures, new beginnings and influence. In 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, carrying Pilgrims toward the New World. Nearly three centuries later, in 1908, William C. Durant founded General Motors in Flint, Michigan, launching an enterprise that would become an automotive giant. These events differ in scale and purpose, but both point to how a journey or an act of creation can reshape what comes next.
The date also marks a political turning point and a musical legacy: Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia in 1975, while B.B. King was born in 1925. Celebrated as the “King of the Blues,” King developed a distinctive guitar style whose fluid bends and shimmering vibrato inspired generations of players. Taken together, the list spans exploration, industry, sovereignty and art—a reminder that history’s milestones can be measured in movement, self-determination and cultural reach. Falling in September, these anniversaries arrive as summer gives way to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, a season often associated with transition: fitting company for a date filled with departures and beginnings.