On November 16, 1776 the Continental Navy brig Andrew Doria approached St. Eustatius, a Caribbean island owned by the Dutch. The vessel and a harbor fort exchanged 13-gun salutes, marking the first time a foreign power recognized and honored a ship flying America’s flag. Image from USNHC via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

On today’s date November 16, 1907, Oliver Burgess Meredith was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Burgess Meredith in 1954 – BBDO (Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborne) for General Electric, the show’s sponsor via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state. Oklahoma has the most man-made lakes than any other U.S. state. How many? Over 200 of them Image of the East Wharf at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City from Lane Pearman via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

President Richard Nixon signing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act on November 16th, 1973 Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

American opera sensation Minnie Hauk was born in New York City on November 16, 1851. She made her singing debut as a teenager in November 1866, the year following the Civil War. Hauk sang throughout Europe and became an international success. Image via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions

Bow view of the USS North Carolina (BB-55) at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on 16 November 1942 Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions

After returning from Europe with a medical degree in the spring of 1762, Dr. William Shippen Jr. of Philadelphia delivered the first lecture on the subject of anatomy in America on November 16, 1762. Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions

On November 16, 1959, The Sound of Music opened on Broadway. Image: Mary Martin with children, during production of the Broadway musical The Sound of Music. Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions