It's good to set up historical yardsticks for comparison.
We know Major Gagarin flew into space 50 years ago today; setting the stage
for 1/2 a century of manned spaceflight.

We also know John Young & Robert Crippen were launched into space on the first
shuttle flight, 30 years ago: April/12/1981.

But what else happened on April 12?

100 years ago, on April/12/1911, a French pilot became the first man to fly nonstop from London to Paris (250 miles/400 kilometers); a big thing back then;
it showed that aircraft had become practical machines.

150 years ago: The Confederate forces opened fire on Ft. Sumter, starting America's first Civil War.

200 years ago, on April,12,1811, American (and Canadian)fur trappers established the United States' first permanent westcoast settlement at Fort Astoria; now just simply known as Astoria, Oregon.

And there you have it, lest we forget.