1. The Land Run of 1894 began on August 16, 1894. This was the fourth and final of the land runs in Oklahoma Territory, and it opened up approximately 6 million acres of land to settlement, including parts of present-day Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

2. On August 16, 1915, the city of Tulsa was struck by a devastating tornado that killed 36 people and destroyed more than 500 buildings. It remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in Oklahoma history.

3. In 1953, the Oklahoma City Zoo officially opened to the public on August 16th. Today, the zoo is home to more than 1,900 animals from around the world and attracts over a million visitors each year.

4. August 16, 1980, marked the first day of operation for the Tom Steed Reservoir, a man-made lake in southwestern Oklahoma. The reservoir is a popular destination for fishing and water sports, and it provides water for irrigation and municipal use in the area.

5. On August 16, 2004, the Central Oklahoma Railfan Club was established. The club promotes railfanning, which is the hobby of observing and photographing trains, and it hosts annual train watching events in the state.