1. In 1788, Virginia became the tenth state to ratify the United States Constitution, which established the framework for the federal government and remains the supreme law of the land.

2. On July 26, 1863, the Battle of Kernstown II took place near Winchester, Virginia during the Civil War. Although it was a Confederate victory, it failed to achieve its objectives and ultimately contributed to their defeat in the wider conflict.

3. In 1894, a deadly tornado struck the town of Woodstock in Shenandoah County, Virginia, causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of at least five people.

4. On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the United States Armed Forces and marked a major victory for the civil rights movement.

5. In 1952, the National Park Service dedicated Shenandoah National Park in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The park spans over 200,000 acres and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including black bears, deer, and songbirds.