1. In 1845, the University of Virginia opened a medical department. The first class consisted of a mere seven students and four professors, but the medical school went on to become one of the top institutions of its kind in the country.

2. On January 29, 1864, Confederate General Robert E. Lee suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Rappahannock Station during the Civil War. The Union Army under General Ambrose Burnside captured several thousand Confederate soldiers and dealt a significant blow to Lee's army.

3. In 1913, Virginia became the first state in the South to establish a minimum wage law, which mandated a wage of at least $7.50 per week for women and children working in factories and other industries.

4. On January 29, 1958, the Virginia General Assembly passed a resolution supporting the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others in the civil rights movement. Virginia's leaders were among the first in the South to publicly express support for the movement and its goals.

5. In 2000, a major snowstorm hit Virginia, with some areas receiving over two feet of snow. The storm caused widespread power outages and travel disruptions, but many Virginians also took the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the snowy landscape and engage in winter sports like sledding and skiing.