1. On September 12, 1939, West Virginia Public Broadcasting began broadcasting in the state. The first program aired was a news segment about the approaching World War II.

2. In 1959, the United States Air Force established a radar station on Sugar Grove Mountain, in Hardy County, West Virginia. The facility was used for monitoring Soviet missile testing and served as a crucial part of the national defense system during the Cold War.

3. In 1961, construction began on Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia. The project involved the building of the world's tallest earthen dam, the Gauley Bridge hydroelectric station, and several other structures. The lake has since become a popular recreational site for fishing, swimming, and boating.

4. On September 12, 1970, the Eastern Panhandle Regional Airport opened in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The airport was built to provide commercial air service to the region, and it has since grown to become one of the busiest airports in the state.

5. In 1987, the West Virginia State University football team, led by quarterback and future NFL star Phil Simms, defeated Wright State University 42-23 in the school's first-ever football game. The team went on to finish the season with a record of 5-6.