Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 26 In Virginia History
1. In 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee presented a resolution to the Continental Congress calling for the colonies to declare independence from Britain. This resolution eventually led to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. 2. On October 26, 1863, the Battle of Wauhatchie began...
5 Fun Facts About October 25 In Virginia History
1. On October 25, 1758, the first theater in Virginia was established in Williamsburg. The playhouse was named the "Theater on Palace Green" and quickly became a popular destination among the colonists. 2. In 1864, the Battle of Burgess Mill was fought in Petersburg, Virginia on October 25th. This battle...
5 Fun Facts About October 24 In Virginia History
1. On October 24, 1781, General George Washington arrived in Yorktown, Virginia, to witness the surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. 2. In 1854, on this day, Virginia Military Institute was founded in Lexington, Virginia. The institute was established to train future military leaders and...
5 Fun Facts About October 23 In Virginia History
1. The Virginia State Capitol was Dedicated on October 23, 1788 - The Greek Revival structure housed the state legislature until 1904 and is still in use today by the Virginia General Assembly. 2. Union General Philip Sheridan seized the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War on October 23, 1864...
5 Fun Facts About October 22 In Virginia History
1. On October 22, 1730, George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He went on to become the first president of the United States and is often referred to as the "father of his country." 2. In 1783, the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, was disbanded at...
5 Fun Facts About October 21 In Virginia History
1. In 1858, the "Great Eastern" steamship arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, stopping at Old Point Comfort in Virginia before heading on to New York. The ship, which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was the largest in the world at the time, and was used to lay the first...
5 Fun Facts About October 20 In Virginia History
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...
5 Fun Facts About October 19 In Virginia History
1. On October 19, 1781, the British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces led by General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. The surrender took place at Yorktown, Virginia, a significant victory for the Continental Army and a turning point in...
5 Fun Facts About October 18 In Virginia History
1. In 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. This was a major turning point in Virginia and American history, leading to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation. 2. In 1864, Confederate troops under...
5 Fun Facts About October 17 In Virginia History
1. In 1777, Virginia Governor Patrick Henry issued a proclamation urging citizens to take up arms and defend the state against British invaders during the American Revolutionary War. 2. On October 17, 1863, Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart successfully ambushed Union cavalry at the Battle of Buckland Races in Fauquier County,...
5 Fun Facts About October 16 In Virginia History
1. On October 16, 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The failed attempt to start a slave rebellion is seen as one of the events that led to the Civil War. 2. The first recorded performance of a Shakespeare play in...
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In Virginia History
1. In 1790, the Virginia Gazette reported on a speech given by the Governor of Virginia, Beverley Randolph, to the Virginia Assembly in Richmond. Randolph discussed the state's growing economy and the need for continued investment in infrastructure like roads and bridges. 2. On October 15, 1864, Confederate General Jubal...