1. On July 16, 1798, the Kentucky State House selected John Breckinridge as the new Attorney General of Kentucky. Breckinridge went on to become one of Kentucky's most prominent political figures, serving as a U.S. Senator and as the Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson.

2. On July 16, 1862, Confederate forces under General John Hunt Morgan clashed with Union forces at the Battle of Cynthiana in Harrison County, Kentucky. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory, but Morgan's forces were soon forced to retreat due to lack of supplies and overwhelming Union forces.

3. On July 16, 1909, the Kentucky State Fair Board was created to oversee the Kentucky State Fair, which had been held annually since 1816. Today, the Kentucky State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the country, attracting over 600,000 visitors each year.

4. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, headed for the moon. The mission was a success, culminating in Neil Armstrong's famous walk on the moon on July 20. While not directly related to Kentucky, many Kentuckians played important roles in the space program, including astronaut Terry Wilcutt and engineer William T. Reid Jr.

5. On July 16, 1998, the Historic Lexington Courthouse was extensively damaged by a fire that started in an adjacent building. The courthouse, which had been built in 1898, was an important landmark in Lexington and housed several important offices, including the county clerk's office and the Circuit Court. After the fire, efforts were made to rebuild and restore the courthouse, which has since been reopened to the public.