On February 16th:

 1862  Fort Donelson Falls to Union Forces During the American Civil War

A significant victory for the Union occurred on February 16th, 1862, as Fort Donelson, a Confederate stronghold on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, surrendered to Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant, marking a turning point in the Civil War.

 1923  Archaeologist Howard Carter Opens the Sealed Door of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb

A momentous archaeological discovery unfolded on February 16th, 1923, as Howard Carter, the British archaeologist, opened the sealed door of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt, revealing a treasure trove of artifacts from ancient Egyptian civilization.

1959  Fidel Castro Becomes Prime Minister of Cuba

On February 16th, 1959, Fidel Castro was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Cuba, following the Cuban Revolution that ousted President Fulgencio Batista. Castro’s leadership would profoundly shape Cuba’s political landscape and international relations for decades to come.