1. On February 23, 1732, George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He would go on to become the first President of the United States and a pivotal figure in American history.

2. In 1861, on February 23, Virginia voted to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy at the Virginia Secession Convention in Richmond. This decision would lead to Virginia being an important battleground during the American Civil War.

3. On February 23, 1870, the Virginia State Legislature ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting African American men the right to vote. However, this right would be suppressed for many years through policies such as Jim Crow laws and voter suppression tactics.

4. February 23, 1912, marked the first official observance of George Washington's birthday as a federal holiday in Virginia. Today, the holiday is known as Presidents' Day and is celebrated on the third Monday in February.

5. On February 23, 1986, Richmond native and basketball legend Moses Malone became the third player in NBA history to score 25,000 points. Malone was a 12-time NBA All-Star and is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.