1. In 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state to enter the U.S. and the only state to be formed as a direct result of the American Civil War. The state's secession from Virginia was a product of the pro-Union sentiment of residents in the western part of the state.
2. On June 26, 1963, future U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate, John Kerry, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations about the growing conflict in Vietnam. Kerry, a former Navy Lieutenant, was a leader in the anti-war movement and called for an end to the United States' involvement in the war.
3. The New River Gorge Bridge, the longest steel single-arch bridge in the western hemisphere, officially opened to traffic on June 26, 1977. The bridge spans 3,030 feet and is located in Fayetteville, West Virginia. It is a popular destination for thrill-seekers who enjoy bungee jumping, zip-lining, and white-water rafting.
4. On June 26, 1985, a federal jury convicted former West Virginia Governor Arch A. Moore Jr. on charges of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and extortion. Moore, who served two non-consecutive terms from 1969-1977 and 1985-1989, was found guilty of accepting illegal payments from coal companies in exchange for political favors.
5. June 26, 2016, marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain, a major Civil War battle that took place in Pulaski County, Virginia, just north of the West Virginia state line. Although Union forces were victorious, the Confederate retreat allowed them to regroup and continue the fight for the duration of the war.