On December 12, 1976, Elvis Presley gave his final Las Vegas performance — a closing note in a city he helped define

Image of Elvis from the 1970s via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Aerial view of Washington, D.C., December 12, 1918. Construction of the Lincoln Memorial underway, with its iconic columns already in place. Rising in the immediate aftermath of World War I, the memorial would be completed and dedicated on May 30, 1922.

On This Day — December 12, 1923
Mrs. Emily P.S. Moor joined fellow women at a Washington, D.C. driver safety booth, urging motorists to slow down in the postwar capital.
Before the proliferation of seatbelts in cars, these women were already advocating for driver safety.

On December 12, 1862, the Union gunboat USS Cairo was sunk by a Confederate mine in the Yazoo River. Raised by archaeologists in 1965, portions of the vessel and many artifacts can be seen at the Cairo Museum in Vicksburg National Military Park. Source: Flickr.com via Wikimedia Commons, no known Copyright restrictions

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 12, 1791, the (first) Bank of The United States was opened. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Henry Wells, co-founder of Wells Fargo & American Express was born on December 12, 1805 in Thetford, Vermont. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On December 12, 1950, nearly two weeks after the death of her husband who was rabbi, Paula Ackerman became spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation in Mississippi. Image via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

On December 12, 1925, the first motel in the world, Motel Inn (Milestone Mo-Tel) in San Luis Obispo, California opened for business. How much was it to stay the night? Just a little more than a dollar. Image: Motel Inn, San Luis Obispo, Cal., U. S. 101, North City Limits via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On December 12, 1911, a Dollar-A-Day bill proposed by Civil War veteran Isaac R. Sherwood that was developed to pay between $15 to $30 per month (depending on length of service) to every U.S. veteran of the Mexican or Civil Wars, was passed by the House. Image of Sherwood via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The orphanage known as Boys Town was founded December 12, 1917 by Father Edward Flanagan near Omaha, Nebraska. Father Flanagan was played by Spencer Tracy in the 1938 film “Boys Town.” Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

248 members of the 101st Airborne Division were tragically killed in the crash of a DC-8 aircraft at Gander, Newfoundland on December 12, 1985. The soldiers had been part of a peacekeeping force in the Sinai Peninsula and were en route to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Shown is the “Silent Witness” memorial at Gander Lake. Image by ChrisNF, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

American boxer Henry Armstrong was born on December 12, 1912 in Columbus, Mississippi. In the late 1930s Henry became the first boxer to reign as champion in three different weight classes at the same time – (featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.) Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Frank Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. Image of Frank from 1957 which was around the time he recorded “Come Fly with Me” from Capitol Records via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions

On December 12, 1955, “See You Later, Alligator” was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets. Image of Bill & His Comets in the mid 1950s via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Publicity photo of Edward G. Robinson & Humphrey Bogart in Brother Orchid

Edward G. Robinson was born on December 12, 1893. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On December 12, 1962, a Nike-Zeus anti-ballistic missile made the first successful intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile.  

Despite its success the U.S. Department of Defense terminated the Zeus program in 1963 due to technical flaws.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“Queen of Percussion” Sheila E. was born on December 12, 1957 in Oakland, California. 

After the successful release of her debut album The Glamorous Life in 1984 she performed the opening act for Prince’s Purple Rain Tour. 

Image of Sheila E. from MTV in 1985 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

WWII combat veteran and the 105th Mayor of New York City, Ed Koch, was born on December 12, 1924 in the Bronx. 

Just after V-E day Koch was responsible for removing Nazi officials in Bavaria and replacing them with non-Nazi officials. 

Image from 1977 the year that Ed Koch was first elected Mayor of New York City via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania delegates ratified the U.S. Constitution at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia.

Image: Exterior view of Independence Hall via Wikimedia Commons, public domain