1. In 1858, the "Great Eastern" steamship arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, stopping at Old Point Comfort in Virginia before heading on to New York. The ship, which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was the largest in the world at the time, and was used to lay the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866.

2. In 1861, Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart led his cavalry on a raid deep into enemy territory, crossing the Potomac River into Maryland and Pennsylvania. The raid, known as the Chambersburg Raid, was intended to disrupt Union supply lines and morale.

3. In 1873, the first Virginia State Fair was held in Richmond. The fair featured exhibits of agriculture, livestock, and industry, as well as entertainment and carnival rides.

4. In 1979, the world's first outdoor pedestrian mall was formally dedicated in Charlottesville. The mall, which covers eight city blocks, features a variety of shops, restaurants, and street performers.

5. In 1993, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) admitted its first female cadets. The move came after a Supreme Court decision in United States v. Virginia, which found that VMI's male-only admissions policy was unconstitutional.