1. On September 12, 1953, James E. Carter Jr. and Rosalynn Smith were married in Plains, Georgia. The couple would later become President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

2. On September 12, 1974, President Gerald Ford granted a pardon to former President Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed while in office. This controversial decision was met with both support and criticism.

3. On September 12, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast causing widespread damage and devastation. Many residents of Georgia provided aid and assistance to those affected by the storm.

4. On September 12, 1937, the Atlanta Municipal Airport was officially dedicated and renamed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in honor of William B. Hartsfield, the former mayor of Atlanta who helped develop aviation in the city.

5. On September 12, 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee crossed the Potomac River into Maryland, leading to the Battle of Antietam. This battle remains the bloodiest single day in American military history, with over 22,000 casualties.