1. The Battle of Lewisburg: On February 12, 1862, during the American Civil War, Union forces under General George Crook defeated Confederate troops in the Battle of Lewisburg. It was a strategic victory for the Union, as it prevented the Confederates from advancing further into West Virginia.

2. First African American Public High School: On February 12, 1887, the first African American public high school opened in the state of West Virginia. The school was named Garnet High School and was located in Charleston. It was named after Henry Highland Garnet, a prominent African American abolitionist.

3. Coal Mine Explosion: On February 12, 1940, an explosion killed 60 miners at the Lillybrook Colliery in Raleigh County. The disaster was one of the worst coal mine disasters in West Virginia history.

4. First Woman Governor: On February 12, 1985, West Virginia's first woman governor, Arch Moore's wife, Shirley Love Moore was sworn in to replace her sick husband. She served as acting governor for several weeks before her husband was able to return to office.

5. Sugar Grove Naval Station: On February 12, 1969, the United States Navy established the Sugar Grove Naval Station in Pendleton County. The station was used for the interception and analysis of foreign communications and remained operational until it was closed in 2015.