1. In 1861, the American Civil War came to Virginia as the Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas) was fought. The Confederate victory in this battle boosted their morale and proved that the war would not be a quick or easy one.

2. On July 28, 1934, Martha Graham, a pioneer of modern dance, gave her first public performance in Virginia at the outdoor theater at Hollins University. Graham went on to become one of the most influential dancers and choreographers of the 20th century.

3. Virginia native Arthur Ashe became the first African American man to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament on July 28, 1968, when he defeated Tom Okker of the Netherlands in the final of the U.S. Open at Forest Hills in New York. Ashe went on to become one of the most important voices in the civil rights movement and a respected humanitarian.

4. The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, an annual event featuring live performances by notable musicians, was founded on July 28, 1963. The festival takes place in Orkney Springs, Virginia, and has hosted artists such as Emmylou Harris, The Temptations, and The Beach Boys.

5. On July 28, 1954, a U.S. Navy airplane crashed into the atomic energy plant in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. The plane was carrying 10,000 pounds of uranium and plutonium, which scattered across the forest and contaminated the area. The cleanup efforts took several years and were a major environmental disaster.