1. On August 25, 1749, French explorer Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville buried a lead plate at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in present-day West Virginia. The plate marked French claim to the Ohio Valley and was meant to discourage British settlement in the region.
2. On August 25, 1864, the Battle of Smithfield in Jefferson County took place during the Civil War. Confederate General Jubal Early's troops clashed with Union forces under General William W. Averell. The Confederates were ultimately victorious, but were unable to capitalize on their success due to lack of supplies and reinforcements.
3. The State Capitol Complex in Charleston was dedicated on August 25, 1932. The complex includes the West Virginia State Capitol building, the Governor's Mansion, and other government offices.
4. On August 25, 1959, the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayette County was completed. At the time of its construction, it was the longest steel arch bridge in the world and is now a popular tourist attraction and site for outdoor activities such as bridge jumping and zip lining.
5. Country music singer Kathy Mattea was born on August 25, 1959, in South Charleston, West Virginia. Mattea has won multiple Grammy awards and is known for hits such as "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been." She is also a prominent advocate for environmental and social causes.