1. On December 16, 1864, Confederate raiders attacked the town of Elizabethtown in what became known as the Battle of Elizabethtown. The Union forces were able to repel the attack, though there were several casualties on both sides.

2. In 1933, the Kentucky State Capitol building was completed, which had been under construction for over 10 years. The building is notable for its Beaux-Arts style of architecture and houses the offices of the governor and other state officials.

3. On December 16, 1991, the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team defeated the Indiana Hoosiers in a highly anticipated matchup at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. The game was notable for its intensity and for the fact that both teams went on to make deep runs into the NCAA tournament that year.

4. In 1863, the Battle of Bean's Station took place near Rogersville, Tennessee, which was just across the border from Kentucky. The battle was fought between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War and resulted in a Union victory.

5. On December 16, 1857, Kentucky Governor Charles S. Morehead signed the charter for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, which became one of the most important railroads in the southern United States. The railroad played a significant role in the economy of Kentucky, as it connected many towns and cities throughout the state to the rest of the country.