1. On January 16, 1896, Utah was officially admitted as the 45th US state. This followed a long political struggle, including several attempts to gain statehood that were stalled due to Utah's association with polygamy, which was practiced by some members of the Mormon Church.

2. In 1911, one of Utah's most famous landmarks, the Salt Lake Temple, was dedicated after 40 years of construction. The temple is known for its iconic six spires and is considered a symbol of the state's Mormon heritage.

3. On January 16, 1924, the first flight over the Wasatch Mountains took place. The flight was piloted by Burt Massee and Frank Hawks and was part of a promotional event for a new airmail service between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.

4. In 1978, the controversial "time capsule" monument was installed in Salt Lake City's Liberty Park. The monument included a series of granite slabs inscribed with predictions about the future that were intended to be read in 1000 years. Some of the predictions, such as the prediction that the Soviet Union would still exist, have already proven to be false.

5. On January 16, 2002, the 2002 Winter Olympics torch arrived in Utah after being carried across the United States on a 65-day, 13,500-mile relay. The Olympics, which were held in Salt Lake City, were the first Winter Games to be held in the United States since 1980.