1. On October 20, 1714, Governor Alexander Spotswood hosted a Treaty of Albany conference in Virginia to establish peaceful relations between colonial leaders and Native American nations.

2. In 1937, the Buck v. Bell court case was heard by the Virginia Supreme Court. The case upheld Virginia's eugenics laws, which allowed for forced sterilization of individuals deemed "unfit" to have children.

3. Children's author and illustrator Tomie dePaola was born on October 20, 1934, in Meriden, Connecticut. While not a Virginian himself, dePaola has illustrated several notable books about Virginia history, including "The Legend of the Bluebonnet" and "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush."

4. On October 20, 1941, the United States Navy commissioned the USS Virginia (BB-48), a battleship named in honor of the state. The ship served in World War II and was eventually decommissioned in 1946.

5. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) unveiled its newly renovated galleries of American art on October 20, 2007. The renovation included expanded exhibition space and new technology to enhance visitors' experiences.