1. In 1777, American troops under the command of General Israel Putnam fought and defeated the British in the Battle of Ridgefield, a significant confrontation during the Revolutionary War. The battle marked the first major American victory in Connecticut.

2. On August 16, 1790, the United States Congress passed the Residence Act, which established Washington D.C. as the nation's capital. Connecticut played a key role in the creation of the federal district, as state resident Roger Sherman served on the committee that drafted the legislation.

3. August 16, 1846 saw the opening of the New Haven and Northampton Canal, which connected the Connecticut River with Long Island Sound via a series of locks and aqueducts. The canal facilitated the transport of goods between inland towns and the coast, but was ultimately rendered obsolete by advances in rail transportation.

4. In 1861, renowned author Mark Twain visited Hartford for the first time and subsequently made the city his long-term residence. Twain wrote many of his most famous works, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," while living in Hartford.

5. On August 16, 1956, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, sailed from its berth at Groton's Electric Boat Company, beginning a historic voyage beneath the Arctic ice cap. The Nautilus's successful mission marked a major breakthrough in naval technology and established Connecticut as a leader in submarine manufacturing.