1. In 1758, the Forbes Expedition concluded its mission to capture Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh. Led by General John Forbes, the expedition helped secure western Pennsylvania for British control during the French and Indian War.

2. On October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to spark a slave rebellion. Brown and his men were ultimately defeated by U.S. Marines led by future Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

3. The first game at Philadelphia's Shibe Park (later known as Connie Mack Stadium) was held on October 16, 1909. The ballpark served as home field for the Philadelphia Athletics until 1954, and also hosted the Philadelphia Eagles football team for several seasons.

4. In 1968, the Penn Central Railroad opened the new 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Designed by architect Vincent Kling, the station is one of the busiest transit hubs on the east coast, serving Amtrak, SEPTA, and NJ Transit trains.

5. On October 16, 1978, Congress passed the airline deregulation act, which removed most government controls on air fares and routes, giving airlines more freedom to compete and innovate. This led to lower prices and increased options for air travelers, but also resulted in industry consolidation and struggles for smaller carriers.