1. On June 16, 1816, the Virginia General Assembly approved the charter for the Bank of the Valley, which opened its first branch in Winchester later that year. The bank would eventually merge with other banks to become the Virginia National Bank in 1865.

2. On June 16, 1864, during the Civil War, Union General David Hunter reached the outskirts of Lynchburg, Virginia, but was forced to retreat after Confederate forces under General Jubal Early arrived to defend the city.

3. On June 16, 1903, the Virginia State Corporation Commission was established by the General Assembly to regulate public utilities, insurance companies, and other businesses. Today, the SCC remains an important regulatory agency in Virginia.

4. On June 16, 1959, the Virginia State Library and Archives (now the Library of Virginia) moved to its current location on Capitol Square in Richmond. The library's extensive collection includes historical documents, manuscripts, maps, and photographs related to Virginia history.

5. On June 16, 1997, Virginia Governor George Allen signed legislation that abolished parole for most violent crimes in the state, making Virginia one of the first states to adopt such a policy. The "truth in sentencing" law has been credited with reducing crime rates in Virginia.