1. On August 16, 1960, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Gomillion v. Lightfoot that the redistricting of the city of Tuskegee was racially discriminatory and violated the Constitution. The ruling was a significant victory for the civil rights movement.

2. On August 16, 1997, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute opened to the public. The Institute is a museum and cultural center dedicated to documenting the history of the American civil rights movement and promoting civil and human rights worldwide.

3. On August 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Alabama played a significant role in the civil rights movement, and Dr. King's speech inspired many Alabamians to continue the fight for racial equality.

4. On August 16, 1977, iconic rock and roll musician Elvis Presley passed away at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. Although he was not from Alabama, Presley had a significant influence on popular music in the state and throughout the world.

5. On August 16, 1864, the Battle of Mobile Bay was fought during the American Civil War. The battle saw Union forces led by Admiral David Farragut successfully capture the strategic port of Mobile, Alabama, which had been a major center of Confederate military and commercial operations.