1. On August 26, 1920, Virginia became the crucial and necessary 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote. Virginia's ratification tipped the balance in favor of the amendment, which was officially adopted by the federal government a week later.

2. August 26, 1776 was the day on which the first state constitution of Virginia was adopted. Known as the Virginia Declaration of Rights, this constitution was drafted by George Mason and served as the model for the U.S. Bill of Rights.

3. On August 26, 1781, American forces led by General Lafayette and French forces under General Rochambeau defeated British forces at the Battle of Green Spring near Williamsburg, Virginia. While not a major battle, the victory helped to weaken the British army and hasten the end of the Revolutionary War.

4. The Virginia State Capitol building, located in the capital city of Richmond, was damaged by a fire on August 26, 1870. The fire destroyed much of the original structure, which had been designed by Thomas Jefferson, and necessitated a major restoration effort.

5. August 26, 1957 marked the day when the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine black students, were prevented from entering an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. While not located in Virginia, this pivotal moment in civil rights history had a major impact on the entire country, including Virginia.