1. On March 25, 1865, West Virginia became the first state to abolish slavery by adopting a state constitution that emancipated slaves. This important event marked the end of slavery in the state and helped pave the way for the eventual abolition of slavery in the entire country.

2. March 25, 1872, saw the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's main line, connecting the Virginia port of Newport News with the Ohio River at Huntington, West Virginia. This railway became an important transportation link for the state's coal industry and helped to further the industrial development of West Virginia.

3. The first recorded ascent of Seneca Rocks, one of West Virginia's most famous natural landmarks, took place on March 25, 1935. Fred Beckey, a renowned mountaineer, pioneered a new route up the cliffs, opening up new opportunities for rock climbing and outdoor recreation in the state.

4. On March 25, 1950, the U.S. Army announced plans to establish the Green Bank Observatory in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. This groundbreaking facility, which is still in operation today, is home to some of the world's most powerful radio telescopes and has played a key role in advancing our understanding of the universe.

5. West Virginia's first black legislator, James H. Brown, was born on March 25, 1850. Brown, a former slave who fought in the Civil War, went on to serve in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1890 to 1892, where he was a strong advocate for the rights of African Americans and working-class people. Brown's work paved the way for other black lawmakers in the state and helped to advance civil rights for all West Virginians.