1. In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. While he didn't land in what is now New York, the eventual colonization of the Americas by Europeans had significant impacts on the state's history.

2. On October 12, 1810, American inventor and businessman Alfred Ellet was born in Penn Yan, New York. Ellet is best known for the wire suspension bridge he built over the Niagara River, which was the precursor to modern suspension bridges.

3. The New York Yankees won the 1927 World Series on October 12 of that year. This was the historic team's second championship win and the first of its four wins in a row during this period.

4. On October 12, 1972, a plane bound for Chicago crashed shortly after taking off from JFK Airport in Queens, New York. The crash killed 43 people, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in American history at the time.

5. The National Coming Out Day march began in New York City on October 12, 1987. This annual event celebrates LGBT individuals and aims to raise awareness and promote equality in the United States.