1. On November 16, 1956, the Kansas City-area experienced one of its worst fires in history, as the Argyle Building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, burned down. The 12-story building housed a variety of businesses, including the largest department store in the city. Miraculously, no one was killed, but the disaster resulted in millions of dollars in damages.

2. In 1871, Abilene, Kansas founder Joseph McCoy shipped the first cattle from the Chisholm Trail to eastern markets on November 16. This marked the beginning of a major industry for Kansas, as cattle drives along the trail brought herds of cattle northward through the state for several years. McCoy's efforts earned him the nickname "The Cattle King of Kansas."

3. In 1903, the University of Kansas football team played its first game against Nebraska on November 16. Kansas won the game 22-9, and the rivalry between the two teams continues to this day. The two schools have played each other over 100 times, making it one of the longest-standing rivalries in college football.

4. On November 16, 1965, Kansas City-based Hallmark Cards opened Crown Center, a massive urban development project featuring shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The center also includes a hotel, office space, and residential units, making it one of the largest mixed-use developments in the nation.

5. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill into law on November 16, 2006, making Kansas the second state in the U.S. to ban smoking in all public places. The law, which took effect on July 1, 2010, prohibits smoking in offices, bars, and other public gathering places, with the exception of designated smoking areas in some outdoor spaces.