1. In 1816, Indiana became the 19th state to join the Union. This historic event was celebrated across the state with parades and other festivities.

2. On August 16, 1937, the famous aviator Amelia Earhart visited South Bend, Indiana, as part of a promotional tour for Purdue University. Earhart, who was a faculty member at Purdue and a popular public figure, gave a talk about her experiences as a pioneering female pilot.

3. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the most iconic motorsports venues in the world, was officially opened on August 16, 1909. The inaugural event, which was organized by track owner Carl Fisher, was a series of motorcycle races that attracted thousands of spectators.

4. August 16, 1861, marked the beginning of the Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek, which was fought in Missouri. A regiment of Indiana soldiers played a key role in the battle, which was one of the first major engagements of the war.

5. In 1977, the Indiana State Fair suffered a tragic accident when the Coliseum's roof collapsed during a performance by the Ramblers. The accident killed six people and injured many others, and it remains one of the darkest moments in the fair's history.