1. In 1676, the rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon against Virginia Governor Sir William Berkeley reached a climax on May 18 as Bacon and his supporters burned Jamestown. This event became known as Bacon's Rebellion and was a significant turning point in Virginia's colonial history.

2. On May 18, 1756, the French and Indian War between France and Great Britain reached Virginia as a detachment of French soldiers attacked Fort Vause, located near present-day Pittsburgh. This attack was one of many that occurred during the war as both sides vied for control of the Ohio River Valley.

3. May 18, 1861 saw the formation of the 22nd Virginia Infantry Regiment as part of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. This regiment would participate in some of the most significant battles of the war, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

4. In 1927, Virginia enacted the Racial Integrity Act on May 18, which codified the "one-drop rule" and prohibited interracial marriage. This law remained in effect until 1967 when the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in the landmark case Loving v. Virginia.

5. On May 18, 1980, the ash cloud generated by the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state drifted over Virginia, causing a hazy sky and a stunningly colorful sunset. While Virginia was not directly affected by the eruption, it was one of the states where the ash cloud had a noticeable impact.