1. In 1788, Virginia became the 10th state to ratify the United States Constitution, making it official.

2. In 1865, General Robert E. Lee was named Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate armies by President Jefferson Davis. This would be the final command position held by Lee during the Civil War.

3. In 1973, Virginia became the first southern state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which sought to guarantee equal rights for women. Despite attempts to ratify the amendment, it was never adopted nationally.

4. In 2003, Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner signed legislation that abolished parole for all offenses committed on or after January 1, 1995. This made Virginia one of only a few states to have abolished parole.

5. In 2010, a massive snowstorm dubbed "Snowmageddon" hit Virginia and other parts of the East Coast. The storm dumped up to 40 inches of snow in some areas and caused widespread travel disruptions and power outages.