Today in History: October 12

Today in History
Today is Wednesday, Oct. 12, the 286th day of 2016. There are 80 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Oct. 12, 1492 (according to the Old Style calendar), Christopher Columbus arrived with his expedition in the present-day Bahamas.
On this date:
In 1810, the German festival Oktoberfest was first held in Munich to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
In 1870, General Robert E. Lee died in Lexin