1. The state of West Virginia was officially admitted to the Union on December 6th, 1865. It was created when Virginia seceded from the United States during the Civil War, but several counties in the western part of the state broke away in 1861 to remain loyal to the Union.

2. On December 6th, 1907, the worst mining disaster in U.S. history occurred in Monongah, West Virginia, claiming the lives of more than 360 men and boys. The explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas in the mine, and many of the victims were immigrants from Italy and Poland.

3. In 1992, West Virginia University quarterback Major Harris finished third in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy, becoming only the second player in school history to be a finalist for the award. Harris helped lead the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where they lost to Notre Dame.

4. The West Virginia State Capitol building in Charleston was dedicated on December 6th, 1932. It was designed by architect Cass Gilbert, who also designed the Minnesota State Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court building. The dome of the West Virginia Capitol is coated with 23.5 karat gold leaf.

5. On December 6th, 1999, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case of Blair Mountain, which had been designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991. The mountain was the site of a major labor uprising in 1921, when coal miners from several states marched against mining companies and the state militia. The court later ruled that the state should conduct a survey of the area to determine the exact boundaries of the landmark designation.