1. In 1861, on April 15th, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers to defend the Union against the southern secessionist movement. This marked the beginning of the American Civil War, which had a significant impact on Virginia's history.

2. On April 15th, 1907, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act establishing the Virginia State Library. Today, the Library provides access to a wealth of historical and cultural resources, including rare books, manuscripts, and maps.

3. In 1912, on April 15th, the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean after hitting an iceberg. Among the more than 1,500 people who died in the disaster were several Virginians, including the prominent businessman, Major Archibald Butt.

4. On April 15th, 1958, the Virginia State Capitol was declared a National Historic Landmark. Designed by Thomas Jefferson, the Capitol is one of the most important examples of neoclassical architecture in the United States and has played a central role in Virginia's political history.

5. In 1985, on April 15th, Virginia Governor Charles Robb officially opened the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which connects the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area with the Eastern Shore of Virginia. At 17.6 miles long, the bridge-tunnel is one of the longest in the world and has had a significant impact on transportation and economic development in the region.