1. In 1916, the New Mexico Normal School (now known as Western New Mexico University) held its first classes in its newly constructed building in Silver City.
2. On November 16, 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the Taos Pueblo a World Heritage Site.
3. In 1965, the Chimayo earthquake struck northern New Mexico, with a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale. It caused extensive damage to buildings and homes in the area.
4. On this day in 1989, the New Mexico Museum of Art opened a new wing dedicated to contemporary art. The new wing allowed the museum to showcase more modern and diverse art from New Mexico and beyond.
5. November 16, 2010, marked the Falcon 9 launch, the first-ever launch of a privately developed spacecraft. The Falcon 9 was developed by SpaceX, a company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, and successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.