Today In History
5 Fun Facts About August 27 In West Virginia History
1. On August 27, 1921, the Battle of Blair Mountain began in Logan County. This was the largest armed uprising in United States history since the Civil War, with over 10,000 coal miners fighting against coal companies and government forces. 2. West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863,...
5 Fun Facts About August 26 In West Virginia History
1. The Battle of Kessler's Cross Lanes: On August 26, 1861, Confederate and Union forces clashed in what would become known as the Battle of Kessler's Cross Lanes. The Confederate troops were led by General John B. Floyd, who ordered an attack on the Union soldiers commanded by Colonel Erastus...
5 Fun Facts About August 25 In West Virginia History
1. On August 25, 1749, French explorer Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville buried a lead plate at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in present-day West Virginia. The plate marked French claim to the Ohio Valley and was meant to discourage British settlement in the region. 2. On...
5 Fun Facts About August 24 In West Virginia History
1. On August 24, 1863, the Battle of White Sulphur Springs was fought in Greenbrier County during the American Civil War. The Confederate army, led by General John Echols, defeated the Union forces under General William Averell, allowing the Confederates to extend their control over western Virginia. 2. August 24,...
5 Fun Facts About August 23 In West Virginia History
1. In 1774, the Battle of Point Pleasant occurred in present-day Mason County. This battle marked the culmination of Lord Dunmore's War between the Virginia militia and Native American tribes, and is considered one of the first battles of the American Revolution. 2. On August 23, 1861, Union and Confederate...
5 Fun Facts About August 22 In West Virginia History
1. In 1861, Union troops under the command of General Jacob Cox successfully defended the town of Carnifex Ferry in Fayette County from Confederate forces. This victory helped secure West Virginia's continued loyalty to the Union during the Civil War. 2. On August 22, 1879, the first West Virginia State...
5 Fun Facts About August 21 In West Virginia History
1. West Virginia was declared the 35th state of the United States on August 21, 1861, during the American Civil War. The state was created from Virginia's western counties, which remained loyal to the Union and separated from the rest of the state, which had seceded to join the Confederacy....
5 Fun Facts About August 20 In West Virginia History
1. Birth of Booker T. Washington: On August 20, 1856, one of the most influential African American educators and leaders was born into slavery in Franklin County, Virginia. Booker T. Washington later founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and became an advisor to presidents. 2. First Woman Voter: On August...
5 Fun Facts About August 19 In West Virginia History
1. The Battle of Scary Creek: On August 19, 1861, the Battle of Scary Creek took place in what is now West Virginia. This was one of the early battles of the Civil War and was fought between Union forces under the command of General Jacob Cox and Confederate forces...
5 Fun Facts About August 18 In West Virginia History
August 18 is an important date in West Virginia's rich history. From the birth of influential figures to the creation of important landmarks, the state has a lot to celebrate on this day. Here are five interesting facts about August 18 in West Virginia history. 1. West Virginia State Fair...
5 Fun Facts About August 17 In West Virginia History
1. On August 17, 1807, the Virginia State Legislature officially created the county of Kanawha from a portion of Greenbrier County. The county's namesake, the Kanawha River, played a critical role in the region's economic development, serving as a major transportation artery for coal and timber. 2. The Battle of...
5 Fun Facts About August 16 In West Virginia History
1. On August 16, 1901, the town of Grafton became the location of the first Mother’s Day celebration in West Virginia. Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day, organized a memorial for her mother at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton. 2. In 1921, on August 16, more than 10,000...