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27 fun facts for June, 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
From the first roller coaster at Coney Island to the International Day of Family Remittances, June 16th is marked by diverse and interesting events. This day witnesses events such as South African Youth Day, Icelandic National Day, and the celebration of contributions to science, technology, art, and human rights.
27 Fun facts
  1. On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in America opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. The ride was called the “Switchback Railway” and considered the United States' first roller coaster.
  2. June 16th is National Fudge Day in the United States, a day for all fudge lovers to enjoy their favorite confectionery.
  3. On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. She was a Russian cosmonaut and orbit the Earth 48 times aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft.
  4. In 1978, the movie "Grease" starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John premiered on June 16th. The film became a box office hit and launched the careers of several young actors.
  5. On June 16, 1904, the famous novel "Ulysses" by James Joyce is set. This date is now celebrated as "Bloomsday," a day commemorating the life of Joyce and his famous work.
  6. Father’s Day in El Salvador and Guatemala is celebrated every June 16th, honoring the role of fathers in their families and society.
  7. On June 16, 1944, George Stinney Jr. became the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th century at the age of 14.
  8. The largest recorded earthquake in New Zealand's history took place on June 16, 1815, with an estimated magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale.
  9. Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights organization, was founded on June 16, 1961. The purpose of the organization is to campaign and promote human rights globally.
  10. Famous American rapper Tupac Shakur was born on June 16, 1971. He is known for his thought-provoking and influential music in the hip-hop industry.
  11. On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech, in which he stated that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." This speech marked his acceptance of the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
  12. South African Youth Day takes place on June 16 every year, commemorating the Soweto Uprising of 1976, where students protested apartheid and the use of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools.
  13. Icelandic National Day is celebrated on June 16th, marking the day Iceland became an independent republic in 1944.
  14. On June 16, 1960, the film "Psycho," directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles, premiered in New York City.
  15. In 2006, the mascot of the FIFA World Cup, Goleo VI, was paraded through Berlin as part of the official opening ceremony on June 16.
  16. In 1933, the National Industrial Recovery Act was signed into law in the United States on June 16th. The act aimed to revive the U.S. economy during the Great Depression.
  17. On June 16, 1950, first kidney transplant surgery was performed by Dr. Richard H. Lawler at Chicago's Little Company of Mary Hospital, marking a milestone in organ transplant procedures.
  18. In 1961, Russian ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev defected from the Soviet Union to the West on June 16th while on tour in Paris, seeking artistic freedom.
  19. On June 16, 1960, the first installment of the famous comic strip "Mafalda" was published in Argentina. Created by Quino, it depicted the life and opinions of a young girl named Mafalda.
  20. In 1871, The University Tests Act in the United Kingdom was passed on June 16th, allowing women to join universities in Britain.
  21. On June 16, 1911, IBM was founded as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, emerging as a leader in technology and innovation.
  22. Italian composer, conductor, and music theorist, Claudio Monteverdi died on June 16, 1643. He’s considered as a pioneer composer whose musical works greatly contributed to the development of opera.
  23. In 1977, Oracle Corporation, a multinational computer technology corporation, was incorporated on June 16th by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates.
  24. On June 16, 2012, Chinese astronaut Liu Yang became the first Chinese woman in space, aboard the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft.
  25. American author Joyce Carol Oates was born on June 16, 1938. She is well known for her numerous novels, short stories, and essays.
  26. June 16 is observed as International Day of Family Remittances to recognize the numerous contributions and sacrifices made by migrant workers for their families back home.
  27. On June 16, 1903, Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan, marking the beginning of the modern automotive industry.

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