Discover what happened on October 12 in history as medical breakthroughs saved lives, space exploration reached new milestones, political events reshaped American leadership, and historic moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on October 12 in History?
On this day, the iron lung was used on a patient for the first time, Voskhod 1 carried the first multi-person crew into space, Grand Rapids Congressman Gerald R. Ford was nominated for Vice President, and the USS Cole was attacked in Yemen.
OCTOBER 12 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1492 – Christopher Columbus and his expedition reached the Bahamas after sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain. The landing began sustained European exploration and colonization of the Americas, profoundly changing the history of both the Old and New Worlds.
1692 – Massachusetts Governor Sir William Phips wrote that he had stopped proceedings in the Salem witch trials after becoming concerned that innocent people could be convicted based on unreliable evidence. The infamous trials had resulted in the executions of 20 people.
1773 – America’s first public hospital devoted exclusively to treating people with mental illness opened in Williamsburg, VA. Originally called the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, it later became Eastern State Hospital.
1792 – The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the United States was held in New York City to mark the 300th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.
1892 – Millions of American schoolchildren recited the Pledge of Allegiance as part of a nationwide celebration marking the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.
1920 – Construction began on the Holland Tunnel beneath the Hudson River, connecting New York City with Jersey City, NJ. The tunnel opened to traffic in 1927.
1926 – John Philip Sousa and his famous band performed at the Grand Rapids Armory in Grand Rapids, MI.
1928 – The “iron lung” respirator was used on a patient for the first time at Boston Children’s Hospital. The machine helped an eight-year-old girl suffering respiratory failure from polio breathe and became an important lifesaving treatment during later polio epidemics.
1933 – The U.S. Department of Justice acquired Alcatraz Island from the U.S. Army. The former military prison was converted into the federal penitentiary that would house some of America’s most notorious criminals.
1938 – Filming began on The Wizard of Oz. The MGM classic starring Judy Garland would premiere the following year.
1960 – Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev created a memorable scene at the United Nations during a heated debate when he reportedly removed and brandished his shoe in protest. The often-repeated claim that he pounded the shoe on his desk remains disputed.
1964 – The Soviet Union launched Voskhod 1, the first spacecraft to carry more than one person into orbit. Cosmonauts Vladimir Komarov, Konstantin Feoktistov and Boris Yegorov flew without spacesuits because there wasn’t enough room inside the cramped spacecraft for them.
1966 – Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell performed together for the first time as the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
1969 – The “Paul is Dead” conspiracy theory surrounding Beatle Paul McCartney gained national attention after a Detroit radio listener called WKNR-FM and suggested that clues to McCartney’s supposed death could be found in Beatles recordings played backward.
1973 – President Richard Nixon nominated Grand Rapids Congressman Gerald R. Ford to replace Spiro Agnew as Vice President of the United States. Ford became the first person nominated for Vice President under the 25th Amendment and would later become the nation’s 38th President.
1979 – Douglas Adams’ science-fiction comedy novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was published. It became the first book in the hugely popular series.
1989 – The House of Representatives approved a statutory federal ban against destroying the American flag.
1994 – NASA lost contact with the Magellan spacecraft as it deliberately descended into the atmosphere of Venus, ending a four-year mission that mapped more than 98% of the planet’s surface.
1998 – University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard died from injuries suffered in an attack near Laramie, WY. His murder drew national attention to violence against gay Americans and later helped inspire federal hate-crime legislation.
1999 – The United Nations marked the world’s population reaching an estimated six billion people, designating October 12 as the “Day of Six Billion.”
2000 – Suicide bombers attacked the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen. The explosion killed 17 American sailors and wounded 39 others.
2007 – Former Vice President Al Gore and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to increase awareness of human-caused climate change.
2019 – Portions of the Hard Rock Hotel under construction in New Orleans, LA, suddenly collapsed, killing three workers and injuring dozens of people.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON OCTOBER 12:
Pete Hill – 144 years old (1882) – Baseball player
Richard Meier – 92 years old (1934) – Architect, designed the Getty Center and City Tower
Tony Kubek – 91 years old (1935) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Robert Mangold – 89 years old (1937) – Painter
Lin Shaye – 83 years old (1943) – Actress
Jack Marin – 82 years old (1944) – Basketball player
Drew Edmondson – 80 years old (1946) – Politician
Chris Wallace – 79 years old (1947) – Journalist
John Engler – 78 years old (1948) – Businessman and politician, 46th Governor of Michigan
Barclay Shaw – 77 years old (1949) – Artist
Susan Anton – 76 years old (1950) – Actress and model
Dave Freudenthal – 76 years old (1950) – Economist and politician, 31st Governor of Wyoming
Sally Little – 75 years old (1951) – South African-American golfer
Ed Royce – 75 years old (1951) – Businessman and politician
Michael Roe – 72 years old (1954) – Singer, songwriter, and record producer
Steve Austria – 68 years old (1958) – Lawyer and politician
Jeff Keith – 68 years old (1958) – Rock singer-songwriter
Anna Escobedo Cabral – 67 years old (1959) – Lawyer and politician, 42nd Treasurer of the United States
Steve Lowery – 66 years old (1960) – Golfer
Carlos Bernard – 64 years old (1962) – Actor and director
Chris Botti – 64 years old (1962) – Trumpet player and composer
Deborah Foreman – 64 years old (1962) – Actress and photographer
Chris Chandler – 61 years old (1965) – Football player
Scott O'Grady – 61 years old (1965) – Captain and pilot
Brenda Romero – 60 years old (1966) – Game designer
Becky Iverson – 59 years old (1967) – Golfer
Bill Auberlen – 58 years old (1968) – Race car driver
Leon Lett – 58 years old (1968) – Football player
Martie Maguire – 57 years old (1969) – Singer-songwriter, violinist, and producer
José Valentín – 57 years old (1969) – Baseball player, coach, and manager
Kirk Cameron – 56 years old (1970) – Actor, screenwriter, and Christian evangelical/anti-evolution activist
Tanyon Sturtze – 56 years old (1970) – Baseball player
Charlie Ward – 56 years old (1970) – Basketball player and coach
Tony Fiore – 55 years old (1971) – Baseball player
Marion Jones – 51 years old (1975) – Basketball player and runner
Cristie Kerr – 49 years old (1977) – Golfer
Bode Miller – 49 years old (1977) – Skier
Jordan Pundik – 47 years old (1979) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Tom Guiry – 45 years old (1981) – Actor
Giuseppe Lanzone – 45 years old (1981) – Rower
Brian J. Smith – 45 years old (1981) – Actor
Michelle Carter – 41 years old (1985) – Shot putter
Tyler Blackburn – 40 years old (1986) – Actor
Josh Hutcherson – 34 years old (1992) – Actor and producer
Jake McCabe – 33 years old (1993) – Ice hockey player
Olivia Smoliga – 32 years old (1994) – Swimmer
Brett Cooper – 25 years old (2001) – Political commentator , actress, and social media personality
Iris Apatow – 24 years old (2002) – Actress
Darci Lynne – 22 years old (2004) – Ventriloquist
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR OCTOBER 12:
- National Pulled Pork Day: Gather friends and family and make pulled pork together, a delicious and filling cut of meat is sure to please, or go out and enjoy professionally made pulled pork.
- World Arthritis Day: Educate yourself on arthritis, consider taking steps to prevent it, and raise awareness to guide policy in order to help those who suffer from this condition.
- National Farmers Day: Without farmers, we’d all starve. Visit a farmer’s market, take a trip to a farm, or reenact how farmers used to live and grow with old-fashioned tools.
- National Gumbo Day: Learn more about the flavors that are all wrapped up in this one little dish that hails from the cultures of Africa, France and the United States. It’s time for National Gumbo Day! History of National Gumbo Day While many think that everything coming from New Orleans has a French...
- National Savings Day: Spending is fun but saving is even better! There is little that’s more satisfying than working hard toward a savings goal and then getting to make that purchase that has been in your dreams for a long time. National Savings Day is here to help everyone be a bit more...
- Dysautonomia Awareness Month: Join or host a fundraising event, do your research, and help raise awareness about dysautonomia, a class of diseases affected the autonomic nervous system.
- International Moment of Frustration Scream Day: Ever felt like you were one spilled coffee away from losing it? Not just annoyed—but ready to yell into a pillow, a wall, maybe the sky? There’s a day for that, and it doesn’t involve breathing exercises or polite journaling. It’s called International Moment of Frustration Scream Day, and it’s exactly...
- National Online Bank Day: What once used to be a trip to the bank, waiting in line, and filling out forms has turned into a tap and swipe. National Online Bank Day celebrates this major shift. You no longer need to plan around business hours or rush to a branch before it closes. With...
- UK Coffee Week: UK Coffee Week is a lively celebration of the UK's coffee culture. For one week, coffee lovers, shops, and roasters unite to enjoy their favorite brews while supporting a great cause. The event is filled with various activities and events, all aimed at bringing people together over their shared love...
- National Heritage Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands: National Heritage Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands is a vibrant celebration of the country's rich cultural and historical legacy. It replaced Columbus Day in 2014 to honor the island's unique heritage rather than European discovery. The day shines a spotlight on local traditions, music, and the contributions of...
- National Kick Butt Day: National Kick Butt Day is all about motivation. It's a day designed to push you into action, encouraging people to tackle their goals head-on. If there’s a project or task you’ve been putting off, this is the perfect opportunity to dive in. Whether it’s finishing a home project, committing to...
- National Freethought Day: Encouraging free thinking that is based in logic and rationale, National Freethought Day celebrates the date that the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts finally ended in 1692. How to Celebrate National Freethought Day Get ready to open the mind and think freely and rationally in celebration of National Freethought Day! Try...
- National Vermont Day: National Vermont Day shines a spotlight on the Green Mountain State, inviting everyone to explore its unique charm. Known for breathtaking landscapes, Vermont captivates with rolling hills, dense forests, and picturesque towns. The state's vibrant culture is deeply rooted in its history and traditions. Famous for producing exceptional maple syrup...
- Canadian Thanksgiving: Canadian Thanksgiving differs from the more well-known US version, but the important thing is to take time to show gratitude for the positive things in your life.
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Coming together to honor and learn from the rich heritage and wisdom of those who've lived on American soil for generations.
- Columbus Day: Though Columbus is a controversial figure, there’s no denying he was important in the history of America. Read up on why to understand the legacy of this holiday.
- Lady of Aparecida: Our Lady of Aparecida, known as Nossa Senhora Aparecida, is a beloved figure in Brazil. Revered as the country’s patron saint, she holds a special place in the hearts of many. The day dedicated to her is a national holiday, celebrating her as more than just a religious figure. She...
- National Day of Spain: National Day of Spain is a vibrant celebration that reflects the pride and unity of the Spanish people. The day features grand parades, colorful displays, and joyful gatherings across the country. It is a time when the nation pauses to honor its cultural heritage and the shared values that bind...
- Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity: Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity highlights the rich variety of cultures across the world. It encourages people to appreciate and honor the differences that make each culture unique. Respecting cultural differences is key to creating a more inclusive world. By embracing diversity, we learn to see the value in...
- Día de la Raza: Día de la Raza marks the meeting of Indigenous cultures and Spanish influence across Latin America. The name translates to “Day of the People,” and it centers on how those cultures mixed, clashed, and created something new. Instead of focusing on one version of the past, the day recognizes many lived...
- National School Lunch Week: Fueling minds, nourishing potential—school lunches aren't just meals; they're key ingredients for young aspirations to thrive.
- Baby Loss Awareness Week: Baby Loss Awareness Week brings light to a tender topic, uniting those touched by the loss of a baby. Celebrated from the 9th to the 15th of October every year, it offers a meaningful time for parents, families, and friends to honor and remember their dearly missed babies. This week serves...
- Rtveli: Rtveli is a vibrant grape harvest festival celebrated across Georgia. It is a joyful blend of hard work and celebration. It's a time when people unite to collect the fruits of their labor and honor the cultural heritage of winemaking that has been cherished for generations. The festival extends beyond...
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Join an event, forum, or exhibition for Hispanic Heritage Month, and appreciate the art, history, and cultural offerings of this rich and expansive heritage.
- Drink Local Wine Week: Drink Local Wine Week gives small wineries a chance to be noticed. It’s when bloggers and wine writers focus on bottles made nearby. Instead of just talking about famous spots like Napa or Willamette, this week shifts attention to local vineyards. People get to read about wines made just down the...
- International Cephalopod Awareness Days: International Cephalopod Awareness Days bring attention to some of the ocean’s most surprising animals. These aren’t your average sea creatures. Octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and nautiluses all belong to this wild underwater group. They move like dancers, shift colors like mood rings, and squeeze through tiny cracks like soft-bodied escape artists. People...
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