1. Virginia Became a State: January 1, 1783 marks the day that Virginia officially became a state after being colonial territory for over 200 years. Virginia was the first state to join the United States.

2. Emancipation Proclamation: On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate territories were to be set free. Virginia, which had the largest population of enslaved individuals in the country at the time, played a significant role in the Civil War and the fight for freedom.

3. First Landing: On January 1, 1608, Captain John Smith led the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, the Virginia Colony, to Jamestown. The group landed at Cape Henry on this day and named the location after King James I.

4. Virginia Capitol Fire: On January 1, 1779, the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond burned down in a fire that was believed to have been caused by British forces during the Revolutionary War. The building was rebuilt shortly after the war and still stands as a historical landmark in Virginia.

5. Resolutions Against Tyranny: On January 1, 1775, Virginia adopted a set of resolutions known as the Fairfax Resolves, which condemned British tyranny and called for the colonies to form a united front against British rule. These resolutions were a precursor to the Declaration of Independence and helped to spark the American Revolution.