1. Birth of the West Virginia State Capitol
January 26, 1921, saw the grand opening of the West Virginia State Capitol. The building was built in the Beaux-Arts style and its 293-foot dome proudly towers over the Charleston skyline. The building is home to the Governor's office, legislature, and other State executive offices.

2. The Elk River disaster
On January 26, 2014, the Elk River chemical spill contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 people in nine West Virginia counties. The spill was caused by a leak from a storage tank owned by Freedom Industries, which released an estimated 10,000 gallons of crude 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) into the Elk River.

3. Home of the first rural free postal delivery
In 1896, the town of Halltown, West Virginia became the first place in the United States to have a rural free delivery service established. The free delivery service was established by Postmaster General James A. Gary, and it was designed to deliver mail to rural areas.

4. Fairmont State College becomes a State College
On January 26, 1943, Fairmont State College (now known as Fairmont State University) in Marion County became a State College. It was the first State College in West Virginia.

5. Zebulon Pike's expedition in West Virginia
In 1805, American explorer Zebulon Pike passed through West Virginia during his expedition to explore the south and west portions of the Louisiana Purchase. He traveled down the Ohio River and through the Kanawha River Valley, eventually making his way into Kentucky.