1. On January 16, 1896, William Faulkner, one of America's greatest writers, was born in New Albany, Mississippi. Although Faulkner was not born in Louisiana, he spent much of his life in the state and his literary works, such as "The Sound and the Fury" and "Absalom, Absalom!" are set there.

2. On January 16, 1803, Louisiana officially became a territory of the United States after being purchased by President Thomas Jefferson as part of the Louisiana Purchase. This historic event doubled the size of the United States and significantly changed the course of American history.

3. In 1973, the Louisiana Superdome, located in New Orleans, hosted its first ever football game. The stadium, which was the largest of its kind at the time, would go on to host six Super Bowls and many other major sporting events.

4. On January 16, 1917, the New Orleans Advocate, one of Louisiana's major newspapers, was first established as The Daily Picayune. The Advocate remains a leading news organization today, serving the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas.

5. The Louisiana State Capitol building, located in Baton Rouge, was completed on January 16, 1932, making it one of the tallest capitol buildings in the country. The building has a striking art deco design and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and monuments.