What Happened on January 16?

January 16 is Religious Freedom Day, honoring the 1786 law that let Americans worship freely. It is also the day the space shuttle Columbia launched, and Dian Fossey's birthday.

• 1786 — Virginia passes Jefferson's law protecting religious freedom

  The Virginia General Assembly enacted Thomas Jefferson's Statute for Religious Freedom, guaranteeing that people of every faith — or no faith — could believe freely. Read the full story →

• 1919 — Nebraska's vote ratifies Prohibition as the 18th Amendment

  When Nebraska became the 36th state to approve the 18th Amendment, banning alcohol became part of the U.S. Constitution — an experiment that lasted almost 14 years. Read the full story →

• 1991 — Operation Desert Storm launches the Gulf War

  After Iraq refused to leave Kuwait, a 32-nation coalition led by the United States began a massive air campaign that the world watched live on TV. Read the full story →

• 2003 — Space shuttle Columbia launches on its final science mission

  Columbia lifted off with seven astronauts — including the first Israeli astronaut — carrying more than 80 experiments on a marathon research flight. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Dian Fossey (1932–1985) · A.J. Foyt (1935) · Kate Moss (1974)

Days & observances

National Religious Freedom Day · Appreciate a Dragon Day · National Nothing Day · National Fig Newton Day