Discover what happened on November 12 in history as a bizarre experiment on the Oregon coast went spectacularly wrong, a historic gateway to America closed its doors, remarkable achievements pushed the boundaries of space exploration, and breakthroughs in technology helped shape the modern world.
What Happened on November 12 in History?
On this day, the first documented professional football player received $500 for a game, Disney’s Fantasia premiered, Ellis Island closed, Oregon officials attempted to blow up a beached whale, Voyager 1 encountered Saturn, and the Philae spacecraft made the first landing on a comet.
NOVEMBER 12 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1799 – American surveyor and astronomer Andrew Ellicott witnessed a spectacular Leonid meteor shower while aboard a ship near the Florida Keys.
1859 – French acrobat Jules Léotard performed his revolutionary flying trapeze act at Cirque Napoléon in Paris. He also popularized the tight-fitting garment that would eventually be named the leotard.
1892 – William “Pudge” Heffelfinger became the first documented professional football player when he was paid a $500 bonus for helping the Allegheny Athletic Association beat the Pittsburgh Athletic Club.
1912 – A search party discovered the frozen bodies of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and two companions in Antarctica, eight months after they died attempting to return from the South Pole.
1927 – The Holland Tunnel opened to traffic, connecting Manhattan and Jersey City beneath the Hudson River. It was one of the first major automobile tunnels to use an advanced mechanical ventilation system.
1931 – Maple Leaf Gardens opened in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It became the new home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
1933 – Hugh Gray took one of the first widely publicized photographs allegedly showing Scotland’s mysterious Loch Ness Monster. Whether he actually photographed Nessie remains a matter of debate.
1933 – The Philadelphia Eagles played their first Sunday home game, a significant change in a city where Sunday sporting events had long faced restrictions.
1936 – The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened to traffic, connecting San Francisco with the East Bay and transforming transportation in the region.
1940 – Walt Disney’s groundbreaking animated film Fantasia premiered in New York City, combining classical music with elaborate animation and an innovative sound system called Fantasound.
1946 – Exchange National Bank in Chicago introduced its Autobank, one of America’s first comprehensive drive-through banking services. Customers could conduct transactions without leaving their cars.
1953 – A federal judge in Philadelphia upheld the NFL’s policy of blacking out local television broadcasts of home games, allowing teams to protect ticket sales.
1954 – Ellis Island, the historic immigration station in New York Harbor, officially closed after processing more than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892.
1964 – Race car driver Paula Murphy set a women’s land-speed record of 226.37 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
1970 – Oregon highway officials attempted to dispose of a rotting whale carcass by blowing it up with dynamite. The resulting explosion showered spectators and nearby vehicles with chunks of whale blubber, creating the infamous “exploding whale” incident.
1975 – U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas retired due to failing health, ending a record-setting tenure of more than 36 years on the nation’s highest court.
1979 – President Jimmy Carter ordered a halt to U.S. oil imports from Iran in response to the seizure of the American embassy in Tehran and the ongoing hostage crisis.
1980 – NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft made its closest approach to Saturn, sending back spectacular images of the planet, its rings, and its moons while revealing new details about the Saturnian system.
1981 – NASA launched Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-2, marking the first time a crewed orbital spacecraft had been launched into space for a second mission.
1984 – Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts Joe Allen and Dale Gardner retrieved the stranded Palapa B2 satellite during a daring spacewalk, completing the first recovery of a satellite for return to Earth.
1987 – The American Medical Association declared that it was unethical for physicians to refuse treatment solely because a patient had AIDS or was HIV-positive.
1990 – The IRS seized numerous assets belonging to country music legend Willie Nelson, including property and recording equipment, in an effort to collect millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.
1990 – Computer scientists Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau published a formal proposal for the World Wide Web at CERN, helping lay the foundation for the modern web.
1991 – Robert Gates was sworn in as CIA director.
1993 – The first Ultimate Fighting Championship event, UFC 1, was held in Denver, Colorado, introducing American television audiences to a new style of no-holds-barred fighting competition.
1995 – Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on mission STS-74, beginning a journey to dock with Russia’s Mir space station as part of the Shuttle–Mir program.
1997 – Ramzi Yousef was convicted for his role in masterminding the 1993 bombing of New York City’s World Trade Center, which killed six people and injured more than 1,000.
1998 – German automaker Daimler-Benz completed its merger with Chrysler Corporation, creating DaimlerChrysler AG in one of the automotive industry’s biggest corporate combinations.
2001 – American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into a residential neighborhood in Queens, New York, shortly after taking off from JFK Airport, killing all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground.
2002 – Comic book legend Stan Lee filed a lawsuit against Marvel Entertainment, claiming he was owed millions of dollars in profits from movies based on characters he helped create, including Spider-Man.
2007 – Nintendo released Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii in North America, sending Mario on a gravity-defying adventure through outer space.
2013 – One World Trade Center in New York City was officially recognized as the tallest building in the United States, standing at a symbolic height of 1,776 feet.
2013 – American Airlines and US Airways reached an antitrust settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, clearing the way for a merger that would create the world’s largest airline at the time.
2014 – The European Space Agency’s Philae lander became the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a comet, touching down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after a ten-year journey through space.
2020 – Sony launched the PlayStation 5 in the United States and several other markets, introducing its next generation of video game consoles.
2021 – A Los Angeles judge officially ended Britney Spears’s nearly 14-year conservatorship, restoring her control over her personal and financial affairs.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON NOVEMBER 12:
Brian Hyland – 83 years old (1943) – Pop singer
Wallace Shawn – 83 years old (1943) – Actor, comedian and playwright
Ken Houston – 82 years old (1944) – Football player
Booker T. Jones – 82 years old (1944) – Pianist, saxophonist, songwriter, and producer
Al Michaels – 82 years old (1944) – Sportscaster
Judith Roitman – 81 years old (1945) – Mathematician and academic
Buck Dharma – 79 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jack Reed – 77 years old (1949) – Soldier and politician
Barbara Fairchild – 76 years old (1950) – Country and gospel singer-songwriter
Megan Mullally – 68 years old (1958) – Actress and singer
Vincent Irizarry – 67 years old (1959) – Actor
Neal Shusterman – 64 years old (1962) – Author and poet
Naomi Wolf – 64 years old (1962) – Author and journalist
Michael Rogers (publisher) – 63 years old (1963) – Media executive, journalist, and fundraiser
David Ellefson – 62 years old (1964) – Bass player and songwriter
Lex Lang – 61 years old (1965) – Voice actor and producer
Disco Inferno – 59 years old (1967) – Wrestler and manager
Michael Moorer – 59 years old (1967) – Boxer
Kathleen Hanna – 58 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter
Sammy Sosa – 58 years old (1968) – Dominican-American baseball player
Ian Bremmer – 57 years old (1969) – Political scientist and author
Rob Schrab – 57 years old (1969) – Writer and artist
Elektra – 56 years old (1970) – Wrestler, model, and dancer
Tonya Harding – 56 years old (1970) – Figure skater
Chen Guangcheng – 55 years old (1971) – Chinese-American lawyer and activist
Rebecca Wisocky – 55 years old (1971) – Actress
Ethan Zohn – 53 years old (1973) – Pro soccer player and Survivor: Africa winner
Tamala Jones – 52 years old (1974) – Actress
Jason Lezak – 51 years old (1975) – Swimmer
Tevin Campbell – 50 years old (1976) – R&B singer-songwriter and actor
Richelle Mead – 50 years old (1976) – Author and educator
Ashley Williams – 48 years old (1978) – Actress
Lucas Glover – 47 years old (1979) – Golfer
Anne Hathaway – 44 years old (1982) – Actress
Charlie Morton – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player
Jorge Masvidal – 42 years old (1984) – Mixed Martial Artist
Omarion – 42 years old (1984) – Singer, songwriter, actor and dancer
Russell Westbrook – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player
Trey Burke – 34 years old (1992) – Basketball player
Dexter Lawrence – 29 years old (1997) – Football player
Paolo Banchero – 24 years old (2002) – Italian-American basketball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR NOVEMBER 12:
- World Quality Day: To err is human, but quality control ensures perfection. From production lines to service industries, it's the critical step that ensures customer satisfaction and peace of mind.
- National French Dip Day: Tender slices of roast beef piled high on a sliced baguette and dipped in flavorful juices from the roasting process? Yes please! It’s time for National French Dip Day! How to Celebrate National French Dip Day Enjoy observing National French Dip Day in a variety of ways, including some of these...
- World Pneumonia Day: Pneumonia acts as the single largest infectious killer of both children and adults with at least 2.5 million people each year succumbing to it. In fact, pneumonia is the world’s leading killer of children under the age of five years old. Raising awareness about the fight against pneumonia, World Pneumonia...
- Rad Tech Week: Rad Tech Week is a lively celebration of radiologic technologists and their essential work in the medical field. This special week shines a spotlight on the professionals who use cutting-edge imaging technology to diagnose and treat countless conditions. From X-rays to MRIs, these skilled technologists help doctors understand what’s happening...
- National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day: Get ready to feel uplifted and inspired by heartwarming stories that make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the little things in life.
- National Happy Hour Day: Head over to your local bar or pub with friends and family on Happy Hour Day and enjoy legendary discounts on your favorite alcoholic beverages.
- National Book Award Week: National Book Award Week, celebrated from November 7 to 13, shines a spotlight on the power of storytelling and the diversity of voices in American literature. This special week marks a time to honor and discover the incredible works of authors that shape our understanding and enjoyment of books. From...
- National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day: Imagine that savory slice, loaded with all the good stuff, a harmonious medley of flavors — and not a single fishy surprise in sight!
- Dear Santa Letter Week: Have you ever wondered what it feels like to send a wish directly to Santa Claus? Every year, during Dear Santa Letter Week, children and adults alike take pen to paper to craft personal messages to the jolly old elf. Celebrated during November, this week captures the essence of childhood...
- Nurse Practitioner Week: Nurse Practitioner Week is a lively celebration of the essential work nurse practitioners (NPs) do. This special week highlights their contributions to healthcare, emphasizing their role in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. The week draws attention to the unique combination of clinical expertise and compassionate care that NPs provide. It's a...
- National Recycling Week: National Recycling Week is an exciting time to highlight the significance of recycling. This week aims to educate and inspire individuals, communities, and organizations to improve their recycling habits. Celebrating National Recycling Week helps spread awareness about the importance of recycling. It emphasizes reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling properly. These...
- World Usability Day: You press a button on a screen, and nothing happens. The words are tiny, the layout’s confusing, and you're stuck. That’s exactly the kind of thing World Usability Day tries to fix. It's a global effort to make everyday technology easier for people to use. From apps to elevators, the aim...
- Fancy Rat & Mouse Day: Tiny, colorful companions with personalities that surprise, these pocket-sized pals are a delightful twist on the conventional pet experience.
- National Community Education Day: National Community Education Day honors the people, programs, and purpose behind learning that goes far beyond school walls. It shines a light on community-centered education—from early childhood to older adulthood—and all the teachers, coordinators, and volunteers who help it happen. These efforts build stronger neighborhoods where growth never stops and learning...
- Web Summit Lisbon: Web Summit Lisbon stands as one of the world's largest technology conferences. It brings together over 70,000 attendees from various sectors, including tech startups, investors, and global leaders. The four-day event, which takes place in the lively city of Lisbon, offers a platform for networking, learning, and innovation. Participants get...
- National Split Pea Soup Week: Savoring a comforting blend of legumes, slow-cooked to perfection, offering warmth and nourishment during the cold season.
- Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week: From our furry companions to majestic wildlife, our connection with the animal kingdom is a bond that goes beyond words.
- Sugar Awareness Week: Have you ever checked the ingredients on your favorite snack? Sugar shows up in places you wouldn't expect—like pasta sauce, bread, and yogurt. Sugar Awareness Week brings attention to this sneaky habit in the food world. It challenges everyone to take a closer look at what they eat and drink each...
- National Young Readers Week: Fostering young minds' love for stories and expanding horizons through the magic of books; opening doors to imagination.
- Children’s Book Week : Spark the joy of exploration in young minds through tales that open doors to realms of endless fascination and growth.
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