1. In 1715, Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood established the first known postal service in the colonies, which ran from Williamsburg to the capital of the neighboring colony of Maryland, Annapolis. It proved a very successful venture, eventually leading to the establishment of a nationwide postal system.

2. On September 1, 1775, the Virginia Convention formed the Virginia State Navy in response to British Governor Dunmore's threat to block Chesapeake Bay. The navy played a key role in the Revolutionary War, successfully defending the Bay and disrupting British supply lines.

3. Civil War General Robert E. Lee launched his first offensive campaign against Union forces on September 1, 1862, in the Northern Virginia Campaign. Although initially successful, the campaign ultimately ended in a Union victory at the Battle of Antietam.

4. Virginia's first Labor Day parade occurred on September 1, 1890, in Roanoke. Organized by local unions, the parade was part of a national effort to recognize and celebrate the contributions of American workers.

5. On September 1, 1968, Virginia Tech became the first university in the country to mandate a black studies course for graduation. The decision was made amid student-led protests calling for greater diversity and representation on campus.