1. In 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. This was a major turning point in Virginia and American history, leading to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation.

2. In 1864, Confederate troops under the command of General Jubal Early attacked Union forces at Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley. The Union army was initially surprised and driven back, but was ultimately able to mount a successful counterattack that resulted in a significant victory.

3. In 1922, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly known as Virginia Tech, moved from its original location in Blacksburg to a new campus in nearby Christiansburg. Today, Virginia Tech is one of the state's most prestigious universities, known for its strong engineering and agricultural programs.

4. In 1983, the USS Wisconsin, a battleship that had served in World War II, Korea, and the Gulf War, was decommissioned at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The ship is now a museum and popular tourist attraction in Norfolk.

5. In 2002, Virginia Governor Mark Warner announced that the state would issue a formal apology for its role in slavery and segregation. The apology, which was delivered in 2007, was an important step toward acknowledging and reconciling with Virginia's complicated and often painful racial history.