1. The Battles of Charleston and Porter's Plantation: On April 16, 1862, Confederate General William W. Loring launched an attack on Union forces in Charleston, which resulted in the Battles of Charleston and Porter's Plantation. The Confederate forces were ultimately successful, but both sides suffered significant losses.

2. The West Virginia State Capitol fire: On April 16, 1921, a fire broke out in the West Virginia State Capitol building in Charleston, destroying much of the structure. The cause of the fire was never officially determined, but it is believed to have been started by faulty electrical wiring.

3. The Huntington Flood: On April 16, 1936, the city of Huntington was hit by a devastating flood that killed over 100 people and caused millions of dollars in damage. The flood was caused by heavy rainfall and snowmelt, and is still considered one of the worst natural disasters in West Virginia history.

4. The West Virginia Mine Wars: In 1912, the coal miners of West Virginia began a series of strikes and protests against unfair working conditions and low pay. These events became known as the West Virginia Mine Wars, and April 16 marks the anniversary of the Battle of Paint Creek, one of the most violent clashes between miners and company guards.

5. Fossil discoveries: West Virginia is home to many important fossil discoveries, and several of them were made on April 16. In 1998, a team of researchers discovered the remains of a prehistoric shark in the Kanawha River, while in 2005, a new species of ancient bird was discovered in the Green River Formation. Additionally, in 2010, a group of amateur fossil hunters found a large trilobite fossil near Berkeley Springs.