1. In 1827, the first steamboat arrived in St. Louis, Missouri. The "General Pike" was built in Pittsburgh and traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to reach St. Louis. This marked a significant change in transportation and commerce for the city.

2. On April 16, 1862, the Battle of Piedmont took place during the Civil War. Union forces under General John C. Frémont were able to defeat Confederate troops under General Edward "Allegheny" Johnson. The battle helped pave the way for Union control of the Shenandoah Valley.

3. The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City was dedicated on April 16, 1918. The building, which took 14 years to complete, features a dome that is higher than the U.S. Capitol's dome. It is also the third Capitol building to be located in Jefferson City.

4. Ty Cobb hit the first home run of his Major League Baseball career on April 16, 1905, in St. Louis, Missouri. It was a remarkable feat for the 18-year-old rookie playing for the Detroit Tigers. He went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

5. On April 16, 1947, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (known as the "Katy") introduced the "Bluebonnet" passenger train service. The train traveled between St. Louis and San Antonio, Texas, with stops in many cities along the way. The service was popular with both business travelers and tourists.