1. In 1607, English explorers landed in what is now Virginia, marking the first permanent English settlement in North America. The settlement was named Jamestown and was located on the banks of the James River.

2. On May 20, 1775, the Virginia Convention met in Richmond and unanimously passed a resolution to raise a militia to defend against British forces. This resolution marked the beginning of Virginia's involvement in the American Revolution.

3. In 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy during the Civil War. On May 20 of that year, Confederate soldiers under General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson received a decisive victory at the Battle of Sewell's Point, where they repelled a Union naval attack.

4. On May 20, 1902, the first Capitol Square Preservation Act was passed by the Virginia General Assembly. The act designated Capitol Square in Richmond as a historic district and set forth regulations to preserve its architecture and historic significance.

5. Virginia native and civil rights activist Oliver Hill passed away on May 20, 2007. Hill was a prominent attorney who fought against segregation in public schools and was instrumental in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. His legacy continues to inspire those working towards social justice in Virginia and beyond.