1. On September 17, 1787, Virginia became the 10th state to ratify the United States Constitution, officially joining the newly formed union.

2. In 1862, the Battle of Antietam began in Sharpsburg, Maryland, just a few miles from the Virginia border. It remains the single bloodiest day in American history, with more than 22,000 casualties.

3. On September 17, 1985, the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its rich history as a hub for African American and immigrant communities.

4. In 1927, the Virginia Academy of Science held its first annual meeting at the College of William and Mary, laying the groundwork for the advancement of scientific research and education throughout the state.

5. On September 17, 1765, the Virginia Gazette published a report on a public demonstration in protest of the British Stamp Act, foreshadowing the growing tensions that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.