1. In 1777, the Battle of Princeton occurred during the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington led his troops in a surprise attack against British forces, resulting in a decisive victory for the Americans.

2. On January 3, 1861, Virginia held a statewide convention which resulted in the decision to secede from the United States and join the Confederate States of America, leading to Virginia's involvement in the Civil War.

3. The Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals was established on January 3, 1779. It is the oldest continuously operating appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.

4. The University of Virginia was founded on January 3, 1819, by Thomas Jefferson. It is a public research university and one of the eight original Public Ivy universities.

5. In 1923, the opening ceremony was held for the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. It is one of the few remaining movie palaces from the 1920s and is still operating today, showing both classic and contemporary films.