1. In 1861, the Battle of Ball's Bluff took place near Leesburg, Virginia. Although not in West Virginia at the time, the battle had important consequences for the newly formed state. West Virginia was still part of Virginia when the battle occurred, and it helped spur the Union army's push to create a new state that would be more supportive of the Union cause.

2. In 1902, the West Virginia Industrial Home for Girls was established in Salem. It was the first institution in the state dedicated to rehabilitating delinquent girls, and was an important step forward in recognizing that female offenders required different and specialized treatment than male offenders.

3. In 1915, West Virginia's first cinema theater opened in Keyser. The theater, known as the Grand Opera House, was a popular spot for movies and stage performances for many years.

4. In 1950, the town of Hurricane experienced a devastating flood that killed 6 people and caused widespread damage. The flood spurred major infrastructure improvements in the area, including the construction of a new bridge over the Guyandotte River that helped prevent future floods.

5. In 1986, Congress passed the West Virginia Wilderness Act, which designated nearly 50,000 acres of land in the state as wilderness areas. These areas are protected from development and are prized for their natural beauty and important ecological value. Some of the features that make these areas unique include old-growth forests, native trout streams, and rare and endangered plant species.