1. On July 8, 1916, the town of Ronceverte experienced a devastating flood that killed 11 people and caused significant damage to the town's infrastructure. The flood was caused by heavy rains that fell over a 24-hour period, and it took weeks for the town to recover.

2. In 1947, on July 8, a B-29 bomber crashed into Cheat Mountain in Randolph County, killing all 9 crew members onboard. The accident took place during a training exercise, and the wreckage of the plane was not discovered until several days later.

3. July 8, 1952 marked the opening of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, which preserves and interprets the history of the town that played a pivotal role in the Civil War. The park features a wide range of historical sites and artifacts, including the famous fire engine house where abolitionist John Brown made his ill-fated stand.

4. On July 8, 1985, West Virginia author Pearl S. Buck was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. Buck, who was born in West Virginia but spent much of her adult life in China, was a celebrated writer and humanitarian who won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature.

5. In 2016, on July 8, the national Coal Heritage Highway was designated as an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration. The 187-mile road runs through 14 West Virginia counties and showcases the region's rich coal mining history and cultural heritage.