1. In 1783, the Virginia Gazette reported the first recorded hot air balloon flight in Virginia. This event took place in Richmond and was witnessed by a crowd of over 300 people.

2. In 1818, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Virginia Governor James P. Preston proposing a plan for a state library. This library would eventually become the Library of Virginia, which is now the official library of the Commonwealth.

3. In 1864, during the American Civil War, Confederate General Jubal Early received a telegram from General Robert E. Lee ordering him to withdraw his troops from the Shenandoah Valley. Early chose to disregard the order and instead continued his campaign against Union forces.

4. In 1907, the Jamestown Exposition ended its six-month run in Hampton Roads. The expo was held to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and showcased the latest technologies and innovations of the time.

5. In 1970, the Virginia State Capitol was designated as a National Historic Landmark. The building, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson, is one of the oldest capitol buildings in the United States and serves as the seat of Virginia's state government.