1. On August 30, 1800, former Virginia governor James Monroe began his term as the fifth president of the United States. Monroe was a key figure in the country's early history, playing important roles in the American Revolution and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

2. August 30, 1836, saw the birth of Virginia Woolf, one of the most celebrated and influential writers of the 20th century. Woolf was known for her experimental novels and her role in the Bloomsbury Group, a collective of artists and intellectuals based in London.

3. In 1862, the Second Battle of Manassas (also known as the Second Battle of Bull Run) took place on August 30. This Civil War battle was a significant victory for the Confederate Army, and it marked a turning point in the war's Eastern Theater.

4. On August 30, 1984, Virginia became the first state in the U.S. to declare a state tree: the American dogwood. This popular ornamental tree has white or pink flowers and is widely cultivated throughout North America and Europe.

5. August 30, 2011, was a historic day for Virginia as Hurricane Irene made landfall in the state, causing widespread damage and power outages. The Category 1 storm was one of the most powerful to hit the East Coast in decades, and it resulted in over $10 billion in damages across the region.