1. In 1787, Virginia became the 10th state to ratify the United States Constitution. This document established the framework for the government of the United States, and Virginia's vote helped secure its adoption.

2. In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, ending slavery in the United States. Virginia was one of the states that ratified the amendment, which had been proposed two years earlier by Congress.

3. In 1902, the Virginia State Corporation Commission was established. This agency regulates the business and financial affairs of corporations in Virginia and is responsible for enforcing state laws related to these entities.

4. In 1944, the Battle of the Bulge began in Europe during World War II. Virginia's soldiers played a significant role in this major conflict, which lasted until January 1945 and resulted in more than 100,000 American casualties.

5. In 1987, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics scored a career-high 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Bird, who grew up in Indiana but played college basketball at Indiana State, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history.