1. WV Statehood Day: On August 5, 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state in the United States. This day is celebrated annually as Statehood Day and is a public holiday in the state.

2. First State Capitol: The first West Virginia State Capitol building was dedicated on August 5, 1885, in the city of Charleston. The building served as the state’s seat of government until it was destroyed by fire in 1921.

3. Senator Robert Byrd's Birth: August 5 was the birthday of Robert C. Byrd, a famous senator who represented West Virginia in the U.S. Congress for over 50 years. Byrd was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in 1917, but moved to West Virginia as a child.

4. New River Gorge Bridge Opening: On August 5, 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge was officially opened. The bridge is a steel arch bridge that spans the New River Gorge in Fayette County, West Virginia and is the longest steel arch bridge in the western hemisphere.

5. Hatfield-McCoy Feud: The infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud, which was a violent conflict between two families that lasted from 1863-1891, is said to have begun on August 5, 1882. On this day, a dispute between a member of the McCoy family and a member of the Hatfield family led to the first of many violent altercations between the two families.