On this day

16 November in history.

5 moments from 1855 to 1992: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Photograph of the explorer David Livingstone.

1855

Livingstone reaches Victoria Falls. Explorer David Livingstone set eyes on Victoria Falls, on today's border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. No European had seen the falls before him.

Wikipedia: David Livingstone

Photo: Thomas Annan / Adam Cuerden / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 16 November

  1. 1945

    UNESCO is founded

    The United Nations agency UNESCO came into being.

    Wikipedia: UNESCO

  2. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein in 1948.

    1959

    The Sound of Music opens on Broadway

    Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical The Sound of Music, inspired by the story of the Trapp Family Singers, opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway.

    Wikipedia: The Sound of MusicWikipedia: Rodgers and HammersteinWikipedia: The Story of the Trapp Family Singers

    Photo: Al Aumuller, World Telegram staff photographer / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Map of Venus showing where the Venera probes landed.

    1965

    Venera 3 heads for Venus

    The Soviet Union launched Venera 3 towards Venus. It went on to become the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another planet.

    Wikipedia: Venera programWikipedia: Venera 3Wikipedia: Venus

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

  4. Gold and silver pieces from the Hoxne Hoard in a British Museum display case.

    1992

    A metal detectorist finds the Hoxne Hoard

    Searching a field in Hoxne, Suffolk, metal detectorist Eric Lawes uncovered the buried treasure now called the Hoxne Hoard.

    Wikipedia: Hoxne HoardWikipedia: Metal detectorWikipedia: Hoxne

    Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 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.