August 12 - This Day in History

August 12: General Interest
1990: Skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex discovered

On this day in 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota. They turn out to be part of the largest-ever Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, a 65 million-year-old specimen dubbed Sue, after its discoverer... read more


American Revolution
1776 : Washington anticipates British strategy
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/washington-anticipates-british-strategy


Automotive
1988 : "Tucker: The Man & His Dream" debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tucker-the-man--his-dream-debuts


Civil War
1862 : John Hunt Morgan captures a Federal garrison at Gallatin
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-hunt-morgan-captures-a-federal-garrison-at-gallatin


Cold War
1961 : East Germany begins construction of the Berlin Wall
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-begins-construction-of-the-berlin-wall


Crime
1964 : Great Train robber escapes from prison
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/great-train-robber-escapes-from-prison


Disaster
2000 : Russian sub sinks with 118 onboard
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/russian-sub-sinks-with-118-onboard


General Interest
1676 : King Philip's War ends
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-philips-war-ends

1898 : Armistice ends the Spanish-American War
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/armistice-ends-the-spanish-american-war

1953 : Soviets test "Layer-Cake" bomb
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-test-layer-cake-bomb

1973 : Nicklaus sets title record
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nicklaus-sets-title-record

1985 : JAL air crash
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jal-air-crash


Hollywood
1964 : James Bond creator Ian Fleming dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-bond-creator-ian-fleming-dies


Literary
1774 : English poet laureate Robert Southey is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/english-poet-laureate-robert-southey-is-born


Music
1939 : The Wizard of Oz movie musical premieres in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-wizard-of-oz-movie-musical-premieres-in-oconomowoc-wisconsin


Old West
1820 : Fur trader Manuel Lisa dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fur-trader-manuel-lisa-dies


Sports
1978 : Rising NFL star paralyzed by hit
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rising-nfl-star-paralyzed-by-hit


Vietnam War
1965 : Henry Cabot Lodge sworn in as Ambassador to Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/henry-cabot-lodge-sworn-in-as-ambassador-to-vietnam

1969 : VC launch new offensive
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vc-launch-new-offensive


World War I
1914 : British Parliament passes Defense of the Realm Act
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-parliament-passes-defense-of-the-realm-act


World War II
1938 : Hitler institutes the Mother's Cross
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-institutes-the-mothers-cross

1941 : Roosevelt and Churchill confer, map out short- and long-term goals
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roosevelt-and-churchill-confer-map-out-short--and-long-term-goals