1. On November 16, 1837, Mississippi became the first state in the United States to issue postage stamps. The stamps were designed by Henry S. Geyer and printed by Rollin & Underhill in New Orleans.

2. In 1885, the first-ever state fair was held in Mississippi. The fair was held in Jackson and featured exhibits of agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and manufactures.

3. On November 16, 1954, the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission was established. The commission was created by the state legislature to investigate and spy on civil rights activists and organizations. The commission's activities continued until 1977 when it was disbanded by the state legislature.

4. In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers spoke at Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) on November 16th. Evers, who was the Mississippi field secretary for the NAACP, was assassinated on June 12, 1963, in his driveway in Jackson.

5. On November 16, 1997, professional football player Steve McNair set a record for the most passing yards in a game by a quarterback in Mississippi high school football history. McNair, who played for Mount Olive High School, passed for 655 yards in a game against Stringer High School.