16 February in history.

1968

The first 911 call. In the small town of Haleyville, Alabama, the first call was made on America's new 911 emergency number. Today it connects millions of people to help every year.

Wikipedia: 911 (emergency telephone number)

Photo: DemocraticLuntz / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

More from 16 February

1. 

   1859

   France sets the note A

   A French law fixed the musical note A at 435 vibrations a second, the first attempt to give orchestras one shared pitch.

   Wikipedia: Concert pitch

   Photo: Special-T / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. 

   1923

   Opening Tutankhamun's burial chamber

   Archaeologist Howard Carter unsealed the room holding the young pharaoh's coffin, unopened for more than 3,000 years.

   Wikipedia: Howard CarterWikipedia: Tutankhamun

   Photo: Chicago Daily News, Inc., photographer / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1937

   A patent for nylon

   Chemist Wallace Carothers received a patent for nylon, a strong new fibre that soon replaced silk in stockings and was used in everything from ropes to toothbrushes.

   Wikipedia: NylonWikipedia: Wallace Carothers

   Photo: User:Innerstream / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

4. 

   1978

   The first online bulletin board

   Two friends in Chicago, snowed in by a blizzard, created the first computer bulletin board system, where people could dial in and leave messages.

   Wikipedia: CBBSWikipedia: Bulletin board system

   Photo: Michael L. Umbricht / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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