1. Sutter's Fort Established: On January 16, 1840, Swiss pioneer Johann August Sutter established Sutter's Fort (also known as Fort Sacramento) in what is now Sacramento. The fort served as the center of operations for Sutter's massive land holdings, which included over 150,000 acres of prime farming and ranching land in the area.

2. World's Longest Garlic Braid: On January 16, 2010, a group of volunteers in Gilroy, California set a new Guinness World Record for the longest garlic braid, measuring over 2,348 feet long. The braid was made from over 2,500 heads of garlic grown in the "Garlic Capital of the World."

3. First Golden Globe Awards: The first Golden Globe Awards were held on January 16, 1944, at the 20th Century Fox studios lot in Los Angeles. The awards, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association, honored the best in film and television and have since become one of the industry's most prestigious awards shows.

4. First Ski Resort Opens: On January 16, 1936, the world's first ski resort and lift system opened at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Norden, California. The resort is still open today and is known for its challenging terrain and picturesque views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

5. Death Valley Records Hottest Temperature: On January 16, 1913, the hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States was recorded in Death Valley, California. The mercury soared to a scorching 134 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a record that has yet to be broken. Despite the extreme heat, Death Valley is now a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and tourists alike, offering a unique landscape of sand dunes, canyons, and rugged mountains.