1. On July 16, 1951, the United States Army established the Orlando Army Air Base, now known as the Orlando International Airport. The base was originally used for training during World War II and later converted into a commercial airport.

2. In 1969, the Apollo 11 space mission, which included astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission marked the first time humans would set foot on the moon, as Armstrong famously stated, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

3. The city of Miami was officially incorporated on July 16, 1896. The city was named after the Miami River, which was named after the Native American tribe that once inhabited the area.

4. On July 16, 1945, the Manhattan Project successfully tested the world's first atomic bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Florida played a significant role in the development of this weapon, as the Oak Ridge laboratory in Tennessee received its uranium from mines located in the state.

5. The Florida Panhandle was hit by Hurricane Opal on July 16, 1995. The category 4 storm caused extensive damage throughout the region and resulted in 63 deaths. This hurricane served as a reminder of the importance of hurricane preparedness in the state of Florida.