1. On November 16, 1863, the Squirrel Hunters of southeast Iowa were activated to protect the area from Confederate raiders. The Squirrel Hunters were a group of local volunteers who were organized to defend their communities during the Civil War.

2. On November 16, 1880, Dr. William M. McFarland became the first African American dentist to open a practice in Iowa. Dr. McFarland was born in Ohio and graduated from dental school in Michigan before moving to Iowa.

3. On November 16, 1901, the Iowa State Board of Health issued a statement warning the public about the dangers of consuming impure milk. The statement was issued in response to a series of outbreaks of typhoid fever that were linked to contaminated milk.

4. On November 16, 1933, Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring signed a law legalizing the sale of beer with an alcohol content of 3.2%. The law was enacted in response to the repeal of Prohibition at the federal level.

5. On November 16, 1959, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Iowa State Historical Building took place in Des Moines. The building was designed to house the state's historical collections and to serve as a center for historical research and education. The Iowa State Historical Building is now known as the State Historical Museum of Iowa.