Fact 1: An Icon's Day of Birth
On March 16, 1954, a Canadian-American actress, model, and activist named Alice Marie Thaddeus, popularly known as Pamela Anderson was born. Anderson is renowned for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. Her Playboy magazine covers made her a prominent sex symbol of the 90s.
Fact 2: Flavia of the Martyrs
March 16 marks the Feast Day of Saint Flavia Domitilla. She was banished to the island of Pontia together with many other Christians during the reign of Emperor Domitian. Both of her spiritual mentors, Nereus and Achilleus, were beheaded when they refused to abandon her.
Fact 3: Founding of Michigan State University
Michigan State University, a charter member of the Big Ten Conference, was founded on March 16, 1855. Originally named the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, it was the pioneer land-grant institution in America to teach scientific agriculture.
Fact 4: Historical Hit of My Fair Lady
The original Broadway production of My Fair Lady, one of the biggest hits in Broadway history, opened on March 16, 1956. The show, a musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, ran for 6 years and won a Tony Award for best musical.
Fact 5: Twitter Sets its Course
On March 16, 2006, the very first tweet was sent. Jack Dorsey, one of Twitter's founders, published a tweet saying "just setting up my twttr," paving the way for one of today's most popular social media platforms.
Fact 6: Launch of Gemini VIII
On March 16, 1966, Gemini VIII, the 12th manned American space flight and the second spaceflight for Neil Armstrong, was launched. The mission marked the first docking in space despite the mission being cut short due to technical difficulties.
Fact 7: The Big E’s Record-Breaking Achievement
On March 16, 1974, the album “Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite” by Elvis Presley hit number one on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. It was the first album to achieve this status on the Billboard chart based on pre-orders alone.
Fact 8: The Discovery of Uranus
The planet Uranus was discovered on March 16, 1781, by British astronomer Sir William Herschel. Although Uranus is visible to the naked eye, Herschel was the first person to recognize it as a planet, bringing the known planets in our solar system to seven.
Fact 9: Einstein's Theory of Relativity
It is believed that on March 16, 1905, Albert Einstein completed the mathematical formulation of his groundbreaking special theory of relativity. This theory reshaped the understanding of space, time, and gravity.
Fact 10: Start of Operation Iraq Freedom
March 16, 2003, marked the start of Operation Iraq Freedom, an operation launched by a United States-led coalition against Iraq. It was announced by then-President George W. Bush in a nationally televised speech.
Fact 11: Exoplanet Discovered Circling Two Stars
NASA officially announced the Kepler-16b's discovery, the first exoplanet discovered orbiting two stars, on March 16, 2011. This event marked an important milestone in understanding and exploring the universe.
Fact 12: NASA’s ICEsat-2 Satellite
The ICEsat-2 Satellite by NASA was successfully launched on March 16, 2018. The purpose of this $1 billion satellite was to measure the Earth's ice cover with unprecedented accuracy.
Fact 13: Chuck Woolery's Birthday
Chuck Woolery, the original host of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, was born on March 16, 1941. His TV hosting career also included Lovey Network, Scrabble, and Lingo.
Fact 14: Superman's Birthday
In the DC comics universe, the character of Superman, or Clark Kent, celebrates his birthday on March 16. Superman is one of the most iconic and enduring characters in the history of comic books.
Fact 15: Artist’s Day in Mexico
In Mexico, March 16 is celebrated as the Day of the Artist in honor of all individuals engaged in the arts. This event includes concerts, performances, exhibitions, and other art-related activities.
Fact 16: The First Liquid-Fueled Rocket
On March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. This is seen as one of the key advancements in space exploration.
Fact 17: Canadian Movie Day
In Canada, National Canadian Film Day is celebrated on March 16. On this day, Canadians all over the world celebrate the brilliance of their cinema.
Fact 18: The Publication of the Scarlet Letter
On March 16, 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne's iconic novel "The Scarlet Letter" was published. The book is considered one of the greatest works of American literature.
Fact 19: Rainforest Day in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, March 16 is celebrated as National Rainforest Day. It is a day to raise awareness about the importance of the rainforest ecosystem.
Fact 20: The Tale of Br'er Rabbit
Joel Chandler Harris's "The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus" was published on March 16, 1955. The collection includes the popular stories of Br'er Rabbit, a trickster hero who is both quick-witted and playful.