1. On December 16, 1802, the Territory of Orleans was established by Congress. This event marked the beginning of the process that would eventually result in Louisiana becoming the 18th state of the United States in 1812.

2. The Battle of Bayou Bourbeau, a major engagement of the Red River Campaign during the American Civil War, occurred on December 16, 1863. Union forces led by General Nathaniel Banks defeated a Confederate force under General Richard Taylor, effectively securing control of western Louisiana for the Union.

3. The first meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Health was held on December 16, 1879. This Board was responsible for regulating public health and sanitation issues throughout the state, and played a significant role in fighting the spread of infectious diseases like yellow fever and cholera.

4. The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on December 16, 1988 in the case of State v. Ford. The Court found that the use of the electric chair as a method of execution was unconstitutional, paving the way for Louisiana to switch to lethal injection as its primary method of carrying out death sentences.

5. In 2013, a giant sinkhole opened up in Assumption Parish, Louisiana on December 16. The sinkhole, which was caused by the collapse of an underground salt dome used for oil and gas storage, eventually grew to be over 50 acres in size and forced the evacuation of hundreds of nearby residents.