1. On October 6, 1847, the Virginia Military Institute was founded in Lexington, Virginia. It was the first state-supported military college in the United States.

2. In 1884, the first Long-Distance Telephone Line in Virginia was established between Richmond and Norfolk. This allowed for faster communication between the two cities and revolutionized telecommunication in the state.

3. On October 6, 1929, Virginia Governor John Garland Pollard was born in King and Queen County. He served as the governor of Virginia from 1930 to 1934 and is known for his progressive policies, including the establishment of a minimum wage and unemployment insurance.

4. In 1953, the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel began. The bridge-tunnel connects the Eastern Shore of Virginia with the mainland and is considered an engineering marvel. It is the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world.

5. On October 6, 2012, the Virginia Tech Hokies football team played the University of North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The game was significant because it marked the first time Virginia Tech had ever worn a uniform that paid tribute to the victims of the April 16, 2007, shooting at Virginia Tech. The game ended with a score of 48-34 in favor of Virginia Tech.