On what date did the final episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood air?

The final episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood aired on August 31, 2001.

The episode was the fifth and final installment of the show's 31st season, a week-long story titled “Celebrate the Arts.” In the concluding program, the residents of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe respond to Lady Elaine Fairchilde's hurt feelings by creating a collage of the neighbors rather than judging one another's artwork. Rogers and Mr. McFeely also presented a film montage about artists.

The broadcast date can be confused with the production date. Although the final episode aired in 2001, it was recorded on December 1, 2000. The series had already ended production before its last new episodes reached PBS viewers.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood had first premiered nationally on February 19, 1968, and ran for more than three decades. Its final broadcast was not a sudden cancellation: Rogers had gradually reduced production, and the last season contained only five episodes. PBS continued showing reruns after the final original episode.