1. 1861 - West Virginia was admitted to the Union as the 35th state on July 15, 1861, amidst the Civil War. Virginia had seceded from the Union earlier that year, and West Virginia separated itself from Virginia to become a free state.

2. 1933 - The West Virginia state Capitol building in Charleston, WV caught fire on July 15, 1933. The fire started in the Supreme Court chamber and spread throughout the building, causing extensive damage. The building was rebuilt and reopened in 1935.

3. 1963 - The Greenbrier, a luxury resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV, opened its underground bunker on July 15, 1963. The bunker was built during the Cold War to house members of Congress in the event of a nuclear attack and was kept secret until its declassification in 1992.

4. 1985 - The New River Gorge Bridge, the longest steel-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere, opened to traffic on July 15, 1985. The bridge spans 1,700 feet over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, WV and is a popular spot for bungee jumping and other extreme sports.

5. 1992 - The Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium, home of the West Virginia University Mountaineers football team, opened on July 15, 1992. The stadium, located in Morgantown, WV, has a seating capacity of over 60,000 and is known for its rowdy fan base and unique game-day traditions.