1. In 1862, the Battle of Manassas (also known as the Second Battle of Bull Run) began in Northern Virginia. Confederate troops under General Robert E. Lee defeated Union forces led by General John Pope, resulting in a significant victory for the Confederacy.

2. On July 17, 1864, Confederate troops under General Jubal Early launched a surprise attack on Washington, D.C., in what is now known as the Battle of Fort Stevens. Union forces were ultimately able to repel the attack and prevent the Confederate army from advancing further into the capital.

3. In 1907, the Jamestown Exposition opened in Virginia to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown colony. The exposition featured exhibits on Virginia's history, industry, and culture, as well as displays from other countries and states.

4. On July 17, 1917, legendary blues musician John Lee Hooker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Hooker would later move to Detroit, Michigan, and become one of the most influential blues musicians of the 20th century, recording hits like "Boom Boom" and "Dimples."

5. In 1954, Virginia native and future U.S. Senator John Warner married actress Elizabeth Taylor in a star-studded ceremony in Hollywood. The couple would divorce in 1974, but their marriage was one of the most high-profile celebrity unions of the 20th century.