1. On November 18, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the formation of two battalions of Marines, which would become the basis of the United States Marine Corps. One of the first Marines to enlist was Virginian Samuel Nicholas, who is considered the first commandant of the Marine Corps.

2. On November 18, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln visited Richmond, Virginia, just months after the city had been captured by Union forces. Lincoln walked the streets of the city and inspected the former Confederate White House, which had been used as his temporary headquarters.

3. On November 18, 1929, Virginia-born industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. visited the state to dedicate the new building for the Williamsburg Foundation, which he had helped to establish. The foundation worked to preserve and restore historic Williamsburg, Virginia, and to promote the study of colonial American history.

4. On November 18, 1958, the Virginia State Police was officially established, consolidating several existing law enforcement agencies under one organization. Today, the Virginia State Police is responsible for providing public safety services to the state's residents and visitors, including highway patrol, criminal investigations, and emergency management.

5. On November 18, 2019, Virginia became the first state in the South to pass comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ individuals. The Virginia Values Act prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The law was a significant step forward for LGBTQ rights in the state and has been hailed as a model for other states to follow.