On this day

16 August in history.

5 moments from 1896 to 1960: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Cpt. Joseph Kittinger Jr

1960

A jump from the edge of space. Joseph Kittinger jumped from a balloon about 31 kilometres up and fell for over four minutes before his parachute opened, a record that stood for decades.

Wikipedia: Joseph Kittinger

Photo: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 16 August

  1. Klondikers carrying supplies ascending the Chilkoot Pass, 1898

    1896

    Gold in the Klondike

    Skookum Jim, Dawson Charlie and George Carmack found gold in a creek in Canada's Yukon, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.

    Wikipedia: Klondike Gold RushWikipedia: Keish

    Photo: Cantwell, George G. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. Tohoku University campus

    1913

    Women enter a Japanese university

    Tohoku Imperial University became the first university in Japan to admit women students.

    Wikipedia: Tohoku University

    Photo: 石巻敎祖 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  3. Hamilton, ON

    1930

    The first Empire Games

    The first British Empire Games, now the Commonwealth Games, opened in Hamilton, Ontario.

    Wikipedia: 1930 British Empire Games

    Photo: V. L. / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  4. Sports Illustrated January 4, 1960 Ingemar Johansson sportsman of the year on the cover

    1954

    Sports Illustrated

    The first issue of the magazine Sports Illustrated was published.

    Wikipedia: Sports Illustrated

    Photo: John G. Zimmerman / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.