This Month in Georgia History — September

September 1989

September 2015 is Georgia Trend’s official 30th anniversary — the magazine debuted in September 1985. Since that debut, Georgia has changed in so many ways — demographics, business, politics, traffic — some for the better, some not so much. Here’s a look at some of the things that have happened in our state during Septembers past.

And if you’re interested in learning more about the changes our state has seen and experienced over the past 30 years, this month’s anniversary issue of Georgia Trend is the place to go.

Sept. 25, 1988

The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center officially opens at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. With more than 1,000 butterflies, it is one of North America’s largest tropical butterfly conservatories.

Sept. 1, 1993

The first Georgia HOPE Scholarship is awarded.

Sept. 21, 1996

John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette are married in a secret ceremony on Cumberland Island.

September 1999

Sept. 6, 1998

For the first time since it was severely damaged by a hurricane in 1898, the c. 1820, 80-foot Sapelo Island lighthouse is lit, joining Tybee and St. Simons lighthouses as the only functioning navigation lighthouses on Georgia’s coast.

Sept. 25, 2008

The last car rolls off the assembly line at the Doraville GM plant, which had been in operation for 60 years.