SEPTEMBER 20, 1984 - A suicide bomber
 from the terrorist group Hezbollah attacked the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 22 people and injuring dozens more, including Ambassador Reginald Bartholomew. The attack was just one in a series of assaults launched against the American presence in Lebanon during that time. Less than 18 months earlier, in April, 1983 the embassy was bombed and 61 victims perished. Then in October, 1983 suicide bombers attacked the Marine barracks at the Beirut International Airport killing 241 American servicemen. While the U.S. never officially retaliated to these attacks, in March, 1985 a car bomb in Beirut killed 80 civilians in an assassination attempt against Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, a suspected mastermind behind the attacks against the Americans. Though no direct connection has ever been made, it is alleged that the car bomb was set off by CIA operatives.

SEPTEMBER 22, 1888 - Just nine months after the formation of the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., the first ever issue of National Geographic Magazine was published. The magazine, which has been in print for 124 consecutive years and has a worldwide readership of 8.2 million, was initially a text-oriented publication. Known today for its exclusive pictorial footage, the magazine first began printing photos routinely in 1905. One of the most recognizable images from the magazine's history is the June 1985 portrait of a 13-year-old Afghan girl, featured above. You can view other famous National Geographic photos here.

  

SEPTEMBER 23, 1889 - Nintendo Koppai was founded in Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce and market the playing card game Hanafuda. Over the years the company dabbled in a variety of other industries, including a taxi service, hotel accommodations and even a television network, however its revenue grew tremendously following its entry into electronic gaming in 1974. After Nintendo launched its popular home video game console, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 along with the game Super Mario Brothers the company has grown to be the third most valuable company in Japan, valued at over $85 billion. While Nintendo's most recent home gaming system, the Wii, continues the company's successful foray into electronics, Nintendo still manufactures and sells Hanafuda playing cards to this day.