1. On July 24, 1861, at the Battle of Bull Run, Confederate forces under General Thomas Jackson earned the nickname "Stonewall" for their steadfast defense of their position against Union forces. This battle marked the first major land battle of the American Civil War.

2. In 1693, the College of William and Mary, the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, was granted a royal charter in Virginia. Today, the college is still considered one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

3. On July 24, 1933, the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic road that runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, was established. The parkway offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities.

4. In 1783, George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary War hero, was granted 150,000 acres of land in western Virginia for his service to the country. This land included what is now present-day Louisville, Kentucky.

5. On July 24, 1916, the Virginia State Capitol building in Richmond was badly damaged by a fire caused by a lightning strike. The building was rebuilt and restored in the years that followed and still serves as the seat of government for the Commonwealth of Virginia today.