1. Nevada became a state on December 16, 1864. President Abraham Lincoln signed the statehood proclamation, making Nevada the 36th state in the union.
2. The Hoover Dam, which was completed in 1936, was dedicated on December 16 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The dam provided electricity to much of California and Nevada and helped transform the arid region into a farming and industrial hub.
3. On December 16, 1987, a gunman opened fire at a Reno casino, killing two people and injuring 12 others before taking his own life. The incident is known as the Harrah’s shooting.
4. In 2016, the controversial practice of horse tripping was officially banned in Nevada on December 16. The practice involved racing horses and intentionally tripping them to make them fall, causing injuries and sometimes death.
5. December 16 is also known as Nevada Day, which commemorates the state’s admission to the union. It is celebrated annually with parades, festivals, and other events throughout the state.