On This Day – November 12
Image credit: The GrayVine
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Let’s look back at some of the most significant events in American history that happened on this day, starting with…
1880: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Was Published
Civil War general Lew Wallace released Ben-Hur, a best-selling historical novel that blended faith, adventure, and redemption. It went on to become one of the most influential Christian works of its era and inspired several film adaptations.
1910: The First Movie Stunt Was Filmed
A daredevil performed the earliest recorded movie stunt by jumping from a burning hot-air balloon into the Hudson River—marking the start of stunt work in film history.
1912: Robert Falcon Scott’s Body Was Found in Antarctica
The remains and diary of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott were discovered months after his fatal return from the South Pole expedition. His final words, written in his journal, became symbols of courage and tragedy.
1927: Leon Trotsky Was Expelled from the Communist Party
The Soviet Communist Party officially expelled Leon Trotsky, removing the last major challenge to Joseph Stalin’s rise to total power in the USSR.
1942: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Began
US and Japanese forces clashed off the Solomon Islands in a brutal multi-day naval engagement. The American victory helped turn the tide of the Pacific War during World War II.
1966: Buzz Aldrin Took the First Space Selfie
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin snapped the world’s first “space selfie” during the Gemini 12 mission, capturing his reflection as he performed extravehicular activity above Earth—three years before walking on the Moon.
1968: The Supreme Court Upheld Teaching Evolution
In Epperson v. Arkansas, the US Supreme Court struck down an Arkansas law banning the teaching of evolution in public schools, ruling it unconstitutional under the First Amendment.
1970: The Bhola Cyclone Struck East Pakistan
The Bhola cyclone—the deadliest tropical cyclone in recorded history—hit what is now Bangladesh, killing up to half a million people and sparking political turmoil that eventually led to the country’s independence.
1989: Grand Hotel Opened on Broadway
The musical Grand Hotel premiered in New York, earning five Tony Awards and running for more than a thousand performances.
1990: The World Wide Web Was Proposed
CERN scientists Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau formally proposed the World Wide Web, introducing a system that would revolutionize global communication, commerce, and access to information.
2021: Britney Spears’ Conservatorship Ended
A Los Angeles judge officially ended the 13-year conservatorship that had controlled nearly every aspect of pop star Britney Spears’ life, marking a major victory in her public fight for autonomy.
Do you remember any of these events? Or do you have more events (historical or not!) you'd like to share with the community? Post them below and let's reminisce together!
