1. On July 2, 1776, Virginia became the first colony to declare independence from Great Britain. The Virginia Convention adopted the resolution to declare independence, and the Declaration of Independence was signed by Virginia's representatives two days later.

2. On July 2, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began in Pennsylvania. Many soldiers from Virginia fought in this battle, which would become one of the bloodiest of the Civil War.

3. On July 2, 1936, Virginia's first state park, Hungry Mother State Park, officially opened to the public. Located in Smyth County, the park is named after a legend of a woman and her child who survived by eating berries and nuts in the area during a time of famine.

4. On July 2, 1976, the Virginia General Assembly officially recognized the state's nickname as the "Old Dominion." The nickname was first used by King Charles II in the 17th century to refer to the loyalty of Virginia to the English crown during a time of political upheaval.

5. On July 2, 2013, Virginia became the first state in the U.S. to adopt a "vision zero" policy to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries. The policy aims to improve safety on Virginia's roads through increased funding for safety programs and infrastructure improvements.