1. In 1790, the Residence Act was signed by President George Washington, which designated New York City as the temporary capital of the United States. The city remained the capital until 1791 when it was moved to Philadelphia.
2. On July 16, 1867, the Academy of Music opened its doors in New York City. Considered one of the foremost cultural institutions of its time, the Academy of Music was the first opera house to be built in the city.
3. The first electrically illuminated sign in the world was displayed on July 16, 1892, in New York City. The sign, which was located at the intersection of Broadway and 26th Street, was created by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company and read, "ELECTRIC LIGHTS."
4. On July 16, 1945, the first successful nuclear weapon test was conducted in Alamogordo, New Mexico, as part of the Manhattan Project. Many of the scientists involved in the project were based in New York City.
5. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission was a historic moment for human space exploration, as Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon four days later. New York City held a ticker-tape parade to honor the astronauts upon their return.