1. On December 29, 1862, Confederate General William Loring led his troops in an unsuccessful attack against the Union stronghold at Winchester, Virginia. Loring's defeat marked the end of Confederate hopes for a winter offensive in the Shenandoah Valley.

2. In 1893, the West Virginia legislature passed a bill establishing the West Virginia School for the Blind in Romney. The school opened in 1898 and has grown into a comprehensive school for blind and visually impaired students, offering academic and vocational training, as well as a range of support services.

3. On December 29, 1914, the West Virginia Conservation Commission was established, charged with regulating hunting and fishing in the state, as well as protecting West Virginia's natural resources. Today, the Commission is known as the Division of Natural Resources and continues to play a vital role in managing the state's wildlife and natural areas.

4. The Tygart River Dam in Grafton, West Virginia was completed on December 29, 1937. The dam provides flood control and hydroelectric power to the region and remains a significant landmark in the state.

5. December 29, 1990 marked the opening of Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, a unique arts and crafts center in Beckley. Tamarack provides a showcase for West Virginia artists and craftspeople, featuring a wide range of traditional and contemporary art, as well as culinary offerings from some of the state's most skilled chefs.