1. In 1861, the West Virginia Constitutional Convention began in Wheeling. The convention was held to consider the formation of a new state separate from Virginia, which was in the process of seceding from the Union. The convention ultimately resulted in the creation of the state of West Virginia.

2. In 1871, the West Virginia legislature passed the "Salary Grab Act," which increased the salaries of legislators and state officers during their current term of office. The act caused controversy and ultimately led to the defeat of many incumbents in the subsequent election.

3. In 1903, the first West Virginia State Folk Festival was held in Parkersburg. The festival celebrated West Virginia's traditional music, dance, and crafts and has since become an annual event.

4. In 1954, the Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston was desegregated, making it one of the first public libraries in the region to allow African Americans to use its facilities.

5. In 1985, the West Virginia Senate passed a bill naming the Golden Delicious apple as the official state fruit. The apple was first discovered in Clay County, West Virginia, in 1905 and has since become a symbol of the state's agriculture industry.