1. The Battle of Piedmont: On June 17, 1864, Union and Confederate soldiers clashed in the Battle of Piedmont in Augusta County, Virginia, which had implications for the Union's control of the Shenandoah Valley.

2. Birth of John Wesley Powell: June 17, 1834, marked the birth of John Wesley Powell, a prominent American explorer and geologist who led the famous 1869 expedition to explore the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon.

3. Coal Mine Disaster: In 1902, a coal mine disaster occurred in Newburg, West Virginia, on June 17, resulting in the death of 46 miners. This tragedy led to the implementation of new safety regulations in the coal mining industry.

4. Hotel Explosion: On June 17, 1968, a gas explosion at the Raleigh Hotel in Bluefield, West Virginia, killed 4 people and injured many others.

5. Earthquake: In 2010, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake hit Morgantown, West Virginia, on June 17. The quake was felt throughout the region, but there were no reports of serious damage or injuries.