A photograph of the rings of Saturn taken just hours after NASA’s Voyager I space probe made its closest approach to the planet on November 12, 1980. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Ruins of fire of Nov. 12, 1883. Shenandoah, Pa. The fire started at a hotel and high winds spread the flames causing the destruction of over 200 buildings. Image via The J. Paul Getty Museum, no known restrictions

November 12, 1880 saw the publication of “Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ” by Civil War veteran General Lew Wallace. While serving as governor of the New Mexico Territory Wallace dealt with the Lincoln County War, Apache raids and the murderous Billy the Kid, yet still managed to write a novel of enduring popularity. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

Letitia Christian Tyler, the first wife of President John Tyler, was born on November 12, 1790 in New Kent County, Virginia. She was the first wife of a U.S. President to pass away in the White House. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

On November 12, 1936 the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge was officially opened. Image: Aerial view of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge in California just a few days before the opening in November, 1936 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Bayonet drill during recent battle practice in Northern Ireland. Company C, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. November 12, 1942

American actress Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Image: Grace Kelly in a studio portrait for the movie Rear Window in 1954 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Colleen Moore and Ben Lyon for the American film Flaming Youth which was released 100 years ago today on November 12, 1923. When the film was released in Canada the following year, it was considered to be so controversial that some movie operators who played the film were arrested. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

John Jacob Astor, our nation’s first millionaire From a drawing by Pierre Morand made on November 12, 1842 Image via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions

The longest-serving U.S. Supreme Court associate justice, William O. Douglas, retired on November 12, 1975. He was nominated by FDR in 1939 and served for over 36 years. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“No mortal ever has been, no mortal ever will be like the soul just launched on the sea of life.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton American women’s rights activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born on November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain