1. The Battle of Lexington occurred on April 19, 1775, which marked the start of the American Revolutionary War. Virginia militia troops, led by Captain Isaac Davis, were among the first to engage British troops in the battle.

2. On April 19, 1861, the Virginia Convention voted to secede from the Union, making it the eighth state to do so. This decision led to the creation of the Confederate States of America and the outbreak of the Civil War.

3. In 1932, on April 19, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law that made Virginia the first state in the South to establish a minimum wage. The law required employers to pay their workers at least 40 cents an hour.

4. On April 19, 1951, the Virginia State Police were established as a law enforcement agency. Today, the agency employs over 2,300 sworn and civilian personnel and serves as one of the largest state police forces in the country.

5. April 19, 1960, marked the opening of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach. The facility features over 800,000 gallons of aquariums, live animal habitats, and interactive exhibits, making it one of the top tourist attractions in the state.