1. On May 21, 1861, Virginia officially seceded from the United States and joined the Confederate States of America.

2. The Virginia Military Institute was founded on May 21, 1839. It is the oldest state-supported military college in the United States.

3. In 1754, the first battle of the French and Indian War took place on May 21, at a site now known as Fort Necessity in southwestern Pennsylvania. This conflict was a major precursor to the American Revolution and involved Virginia militiamen fighting alongside British troops.

4. On May 21, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her landing in Northern Ireland was met with great fanfare, and she became a trailblazer for women in aviation.

5. The Virginia State Capitol building, located in Richmond, was designed by Thomas Jefferson and first occupied on May 21, 1788. It has served as a hub of state government activity for over two centuries and remains a significant historical landmark.