1. The first permanent European settlement in present-day West Virginia was established on August 1, 1753, by George Washington. The settlement was located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers and was named Fort Ashby.

2. On August 1, 1861, Union troops led by General George B. McClellan captured the town of Beverly in present-day West Virginia. This Union victory gave them control of the important Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and opened the way for further advances into the state.

3. On August 1, 1873, the first issue of the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in West Virginia, was printed. The newspaper played an important role in the state's development and was a strong advocate for West Virginia's statehood.

4. On August 1, 1891, West Virginia's first state capitol building, located in Wheeling, was destroyed by fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the building and destroyed many important historical records. The current capitol building, located in Charleston, was completed in 1932.

5. On August 1, 1962, the world's largest diamond was discovered at the Lassiter Diamond Mine in West Virginia. The diamond, weighing 3,106.75 carats, was named the "Mountain of Light" and sold for $2.5 million to an anonymous buyer. The diamond was later cut into smaller gems, including the famous "Star of Arkansas".