29 fun facts for July, 16

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
July 16th is historically significant for various reasons, from the launch of the Apollo 11 mission to Amazon.com's start as an online retailer. It also marks important milestones in sports, literature, and technology, reflecting the breadth and depth of human achievements and experiences.
29 Fun facts
  1. July 16, 1969 - Apollo 11 mission was launched to place the first men on the Moon, American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. This mission marked a significant milestone in the space exploration era.
  2. July 16, 1995 - Amazon.com officially opened its virtual doors for the first time, pioneering a new way of shopping and creating the world's largest online retailer.
  3. July 16, 1977 - "Bohemian Rhapsody," a classic rock song by the iconic British band Queen, reached its 1 million sales milestone on this day, making it the first track to do so.
  4. July 16, 1880 - Emily Stowe, the first female physician in Canada, opened the doors to the Women's Medical College in Kingston, Ontario, paving the way for future female doctors.
  5. July 16, 1935 - The world's first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on this day, forever changing the way we park our cars in urban areas.
  6. July 16, 1945 - The first successful atomic bomb test, called the Trinity Test, was conducted in Alamogordo, New Mexico, ushering in the atomic age but also highlighting the destructive capabilities of humanity.
  7. July 16, 2004 - The movie "I, Robot" premiered in the United States, starring Will Smith and based on the science fiction book by Isaac Asimov, sparking conversations on artificial intelligence and robotics.
  8. July 16, 1960 - Denmark introduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) system, now used by many countries globally as a major source of government revenue.
  9. July 16, 2007 - First Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book was published, the final installment in J.K. Rowling's seven-part best-selling book series.
  10. July 16, 1918 - The Great Train Wreck of 1918 took place near Nashville, Tennessee, when two passenger trains collided head-on, claiming over 100 lives.
  11. July 16, 1964 - The American video game company, Atari, was founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, launching the popular gaming industry.
  12. July 16, 1999 - Golfer Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open, and later that year, tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 42.
  13. July 16, 2020 - Twitter experienced a massive security breach where high-profile accounts were hacked in a Bitcoin scam, ultimately affecting politicians, businessmen, and celebrities.
  14. July 16, 1862 - David G. Farragut became the first-ever U.S. Navy officer to hold the rank of Rear Admiral, the highest rank in the American fleet at that time.
  15. July 16, 1790 - The US capital, Washington D.C., was established on this day, when President George Washington signed the Residence Act into law.
  16. July 16, 2005 - J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published, selling over 9 million copies within the first 24 hours.
  17. July 16, 1951 - Author J.D. Salinger's acclaimed novel "The Catcher in the Rye" was published, a defining literary work of the 20th century that continues to resonate with readers today.
  18. July 16, 1948 - The legendary Babe Ruth made his last public appearance at the premiere of the film "The Babe Ruth Story," just weeks before his death.
  19. July 16, 1976 - The Italian adventurer, Reinhold Messner, successfully climbed the Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest peak in the world, without the aid of supplemental oxygen.
  20. July 16, 2018 - France won the FIFA World Cup for the second time, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final held in Russia.
  21. July 16, 1957 - Marine Major John Glenn set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in just 3 hours and 23 minutes.
  22. July 16, 1973 - During the Watergate hearings, former White House aide Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of a secret tape-recording system used by President Nixon.
  23. July 16, 2003 - The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced the transfer of a proton from France to Switzerland, the first cross-border subatomic particle transfer.
  24. July 16, 1988 - Florence Joyner, also known as "Flo-Jo," set a world record in 100m race at the US Olympic trials, a record that still stands today.
  25. July 16, 1952 - American Christine McIntyre, a softball player, became the first woman to hit a home run in a major-league stadium, at the age of 47.
  26. July 16, 1956 - Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer for The Beatles, joined his first band, the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group, before ultimately joining The Beatles in 1962.
  27. July 16, 1908 - Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was born, later becoming one of the best boxers in history and the first to win world titles in eight different weight divisions.
  28. July 16, 1946 - The United States detonated an atomic bomb underwater in the Marshall Islands as part of the Operation Crossroads series of nuclear tests.
  29. July 16, 1968 - The first Special Olympics took place in Chicago, providing sports and athletic opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and was originally inspired by Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

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