1. On August 16, 1887, Laura Ingalls Wilder married Almanzo Wilder in De Smet, South Dakota. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the popular "Little House on the Prairie" book series, which was adapted into a television show in the 1970s.

2. On August 16, 1918, the 34th Infantry Division, known as the "Red Bull" division, was formed in Iowa. The division was composed of troops from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and served in both World War I and II.

3. On August 16, 1927, the town of Cedar Rapids experienced a devastating flood. The Cedar River overflowed its banks and inundated the town, causing over $13 million in damage and killing over a dozen people.

4. On August 16, 1935, the Iowa State Fair set a new attendance record with over 120,000 visitors. The fair has been held annually in Des Moines since 1854, and is one of the largest state fairs in the United States.

5. On August 16, 1985, Iowa native Shawn Johnson was born in Des Moines. Johnson went on to win four Olympic medals in gymnastics, including a gold medal in the balance beam competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She also won numerous national and international championships throughout her career.