1. On August 16, 1812, the United States Army under the leadership of General William Hull surrendered to the British in the Battle of Detroit during the War of 1812. This was a major setback for the U.S. war effort and led to the British taking control of much of the Great Lakes region.

2. August 16, 1835, marked the beginning of the Chicago River's reversal project. Chicago was originally built on a swamp, and the river flowed into Lake Michigan, causing pollution and unsanitary conditions. The project involved constructing a canal to divert the river away from the lake, which helped to clean up the city's water supply.

3. On August 16, 1907, the first professional football game was played in Rockford, Illinois, between the Rockford Athletic Club and the Chicago All-Stars. The game ended in a 6-6 tie, and it marked the beginning of what would become the National Football League.

4. August 16, 1920, was the day the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. Illinois played a key role in the amendment's passage, as the state was one of the first to ratify it.

5. On August 16, 1961, legendary Chicago Cubs player Ernie Banks hit his 299th and 300th career home runs in a game against the San Francisco Giants. Banks went on to hit a total of 512 home runs during his career and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.