1. In 1780, Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson called upon the Virginia General Assembly to establish the Virginia State Navy in response to British attacks on the state's coastline. The navy ultimately played a key role in harassing British naval forces and protecting Virginia's shipping industry during the American Revolution.

2. On December 26, 1835, a fire broke out in downtown Richmond that ultimately destroyed more than 500 buildings, including the state Capitol and the city's largest hotel. The disaster prompted the city to revamp its fire department and implement new building codes to prevent future disasters.

3. In 1862, Union troops destroyed much of the town of Fredericksburg during the Battle of Fredericksburg, which was fought from December 11-15. The battle was a Confederate victory, but the town's destruction marked a turning point in the Civil War and prompted many Union soldiers to question the morality of the war effort.

4. In 1908, Virginia became the first southern state to adopt a statewide prohibition on alcohol sales. The law remained in effect until the repeal of national prohibition in 1933.

5. On December 26, 1972, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Royster Guano Co. v. Virginia that states could not tax federal agencies. The decision was a victory for federalism and helped to clarify the rights and responsibilities of states and the federal government in the context of taxation.