1. On March 26, 1634, the first English colonists settled in what is now Norfolk, Virginia. They named the area "Newtowne" and established a small trading post. This settlement marked the beginnings of English presence in Virginia.

2. In 1774, Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. The speech was a call to arms against British tyranny, and it helped spark the American Revolution.

3. On March 26, 1862, the Battle of Glorieta Pass took place in New Mexico. This battle, also known as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought between the Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. Many soldiers from Virginia fought on both sides of this important battle.

4. In 1889, Pocahontas Island, Virginia, was incorporated as a town. This historic African American community was once a thriving port on the Appomattox River, and it played an important role in the Underground Railroad.

5. On March 26, 1971, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Rowe v. Wade that a woman has the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. This decision followed similar rulings in other states and was a significant milestone in the fight for reproductive rights.