1. In 1862, the Battle of New Market in the Shenandoah Valley took place during the American Civil War. The Confederate army, including the Virginia Military Institute cadets, defeated the Union army and pushed them back to the Potomac River.
2. In 1929, the Byrd Theatre opened in Richmond, Virginia as a grand movie palace. It is now a historic theater and a popular venue for film festivals and events.
3. In 1959, Thomas F. Eagleton became the first U.S. Senator from Virginia to be elected by popular vote. He served in the Senate until 1965, when he resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of Missouri.
4. In 1970, the Virginia Flaggers was founded in Richmond by Susan Hathaway. The organization advocates for the display of Confederate flags and monuments in public spaces and has been involved in several controversial protests and demonstrations.
5. In 2015, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed a bill officially designating the Virginia State Fish as the striped bass. This iconic fish is popular among recreational anglers and is an important part of the state's coastal ecosystem.