1. In 1861, Virginia held a state convention that voted to secede from the United States and join the Confederate States of America. This decision would have a significant impact on the state and the nation, leading to years of conflict and division.

2. On February 4, 1781, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Virginia to help the Continental Army in its fight against the British during the American Revolutionary War. He would play a pivotal role in the Battle of Yorktown, which would lead to the surrender of the British and ultimately, the end of the war.

3. In 1913, the Virginia General Assembly ratified the 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which established the federal income tax. This amendment paved the way for the modern tax system in the United States, and its ratification was a significant event in Virginia's history.

4. On February 4, 1865, Union troops captured Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, effectively ending the Civil War in Virginia. The city had been a symbol of the Confederacy's strength, and its capture was a critical moment in the war and for the Union's victory.

5. In 1939, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts opened in Richmond, becoming one of the largest art museums in the United States. The museum has an extensive collection of American and European art, as well as African and Asian art, and it remains a vital cultural institution in Virginia today.