1. On October 16, 1755, a founding father of the United States, John Jay, was born in New York City. He went on to become the first Chief Justice of the United States and negotiate the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War.

2. In 1793, the cornerstone was laid for the New York State Capitol building. It took almost 32 years to complete construction due to delays caused by financial issues and the War of 1812.

3. On October 16, 1901, the first subway line in New York City opened, running from City Hall to 145th Street. About 150,000 passengers rode the subway on its opening day.

4. One of the deadliest fires in New York City history occurred on October 16, 1962, at the Stouffer's Inn in White Plains. 21 people lost their lives in the blaze, which was caused by a faulty electrical wire.

5. On October 16, 2002, the Peace Bridge between Buffalo, New York, and Fort Erie, Ontario, was closed due to a bomb threat. The bridge is one of the busiest crossings between the United States and Canada, and the closure caused significant traffic delays.