History of Virginia, USA

1607 - May 14 - Jamestown Was Established
The Virginia Company of England made a daring proposition: sail to the new, mysterious land, which they called Virginia in honor of Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, and begin a settlement. They established Jamestown, Virginia, on May 14, 1607, the first permanent British settlement in North America.

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May 14, 1607

1611 - John Rolfe introduces his tobacco seeds
In 1611, John Rolfe made a significant impact on American history by introducing tobacco seeds to the Jamestown colony in Virginia. Rolfe, an English settler known for marrying Pocahontas, recognized the potential economic value of tobacco, which was cultivated by Native Americans in the region. By experimenting with different strains and improving cultivation techniques, Rolfe successfully grew a marketable crop that thrived in Virginia's climate and soil.

The introduction of tobacco cultivation revolutionized Jamestown's economy. It quickly became a profitable commodity for export back to England and other European markets, fueling the colony's economic growth. This development also played a pivotal role in the expansion of plantation agriculture in Virginia and, later, throughout the American South. However, the reliance on tobacco cultivation had long-term consequences, including environmental degradation and the establishment of slavery to meet the demand for labor-intensive... Read MORE...

In 1616 tobacco was first cultivated in Virginia

Newburgh Daily Journal
Newburgh, New York
June 13, 1893

1619 - The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in Virginia in 1619.
In 1619, the first Thanksgiving in North America was held at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. This event predated the more famous Plymouth Thanksgiving by more than a year. It was organized by English settlers who arrived in Virginia in 1619 under the auspices of the Virginia Company. These settlers celebrated their safe arrival with a feast of thanksgiving, likely following traditions familiar to them from England. The feast was a significant event marking their survival and the beginning of their settlement efforts in the New World.

Unlike the Plymouth Thanksgiving of 1621, which is more widely recognized and celebrated today, the 1619 Thanksgiving in Virginia was not as well-documented. Details about the foods served, the specific rituals observed, and the attendees are scant.
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In 1619 the first African slaves arrived in Virginia.

Newburgh Daily Journal
Newburgh, New York
June 13, 1893

1622 - Indian massacre caused the death of 347 colonists, including women and children
The 1622 Indian massacre, also known as the Jamestown massacre, was a tragic event during the early colonization of North America. On March 22, 1622, Native American tribes, primarily the Powhatan Confederacy led by Chief Opechancanough, launched a coordinated surprise attack on English settlements in Virginia. The attack was a response to increasing encroachment by English colonists on Native lands and resources, as well as grievances over unfair trade practices and cultural clashes.

During the massacre, approximately 347 colonists were killed, including men, women, and children. The death toll represented a significant blow to the fledgling Jamestown colony and underscored the ongoing tensions and conflicts between Native American tribes and European settlers in the region.
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1676 - Nathaniel Bacon leads Virginia planters in the first conflict over British rule.
In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon sparked a significant uprising known as Bacon's Rebellion in colonial Virginia, marking a pivotal moment in early American history. The rebellion arose primarily from grievances among Virginia's frontier settlers against Governor William Berkeley's administration. Bacon, a wealthy planter but excluded from Berkeley's inner circle, mobilized hundreds of discontented farmers and small landowners from the western frontier to confront Native American raids that were plaguing their settlements. Frustrated by Berkeley's perceived lack of action and his favoritism towards the elite, Bacon and his followers turned their ire towards both the governor and local Native American tribes.

The rebellion escalated into armed conflict as Bacon's forces marched on Jamestown, the colonial capital. Despite initial success and the burning of Jamestown, Bacon's Rebellion ultimately faltered due to internal divisions and the arrival of reinforcements from England sent by... Read MORE...

1776 - Virginian Thomas Jefferson wrote Declaration of Independence; Virginia adopted first constitution; declared its independence
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, a prominent figure from Virginia, authored the Declaration of Independence, a pivotal document that laid out the American colonies' grievances against British rule and asserted their right to independence. Jefferson's eloquent prose captured the spirit of the times, emphasizing natural rights and the government's duty to uphold them, setting a philosophical foundation for the birth of a new nation. This declaration, adopted on July 4th by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, marked a definitive break from British authority and ignited the American Revolutionary War.

Meanwhile, back in Virginia, the state took significant steps towards self-governance. It adopted its first constitution, establishing a framework for independent governance separate from British rule. This constitution reflected Virginia's commitment to establishing a government based on the principles of democracy and individual liberty.
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1781 - October 19 - The British Surrender at Yorktown
America declared its independence in 1776, but it took another five years to win freedom from the British. That day came on October 19, 1781, when the British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his troops in Yorktown, Virginia.

General Cornwallis brought 8,000 British troops to Yorktown. They expected help from British ships sent from New York. The British ships never arrived. That was lucky for General George Washington and the Continental army. The thirteen colonies found their opportunity to beat the world's largest empire.
www.americaslibrary.gov
October 19, 1781

1788 - Virginia became 10th U. S. state
In 1788, Virginia achieved a significant milestone in American history by becoming the 10th state to join the newly formed United States of America. This event marked Virginia's formal ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which had been drafted and adopted in 1787, following intense debates and deliberations among the states. Virginia's decision to join the Union was pivotal, as it was not only one of the largest and most influential states at the time but also home to prominent figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, who played crucial roles in shaping the nation's early development.
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1859 - October 16 – John Brown raids the Harpers Ferry Armory in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in an unsuccessful bid to spark a general slave rebellion.
Late on the night of October 16, 1859, John Brown and 21 armed followers stole into the town of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, as most of its residents slept. They took 60 prominent locals hostage and seized the town's United States arsenal and its rifle works. The men - among them three free blacks, one freed slave, and one fugitive slave - hoped to spark a rebellion of freed slaves and to lead an "army of emancipation." They wanted to overturn the institution of slavery by force.

With the nighttime surprise, the raiders had the upper hand. But that didn't last long. By the next evening, the conspirators were holed-up in an engine house. The next day Colonel Robert E. Lee's troops stormed the building and Brown was caught. For his actions, he was quickly tried and convicted of murder, slave insurrection, and treason against the state and sentenced to death by hanging. He had lost two sons in the raid. But John Brown was willing to give everything, even his life, in the fight against... Read MORE...

1861 - Virginia seceded from Union on April 17, joined Confederacy; Civil War began; first Confederate officer killed at Fairfax Court House; first battle of Manassas (July 21), battle of Ball's Bluff, battle of Dranesville
In 1861, Virginia's secession from the Union marked a pivotal moment in American history, intensifying the brewing tensions that led to the Civil War. On April 17th, Virginia officially seceded and promptly joined the Confederate States of America, aligning itself with other Southern states that had already taken similar steps. This decision deepened the divide between North and South, setting the stage for a prolonged and devastating conflict.

The Civil War commenced soon after, with the first shots fired and the first Confederate officer killed at Fairfax Court House, Virginia, on June 1st. These initial skirmishes foreshadowed the bloodshed and destruction that would characterize the war over the next four years. The first major battle of the war, known as the First Battle of Manassas or Bull Run, erupted on July 21st near Manassas, Virginia. It was a brutal and chaotic clash that underscored the nation's unpreparedness for the scale of the conflict ahead. Concurrently,... Read MORE...

1861 - April 20 - American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.
On April 20, 1861, Robert E. Lee, a distinguished officer in the United States Army, made a pivotal decision that would alter the course of American history. Amidst the escalating tensions of the American Civil War, Lee resigned his commission in the U.S. Army. His resignation was prompted by his loyalty to his home state of Virginia, which had seceded from the Union just days earlier. Lee's decision reflected the deeply divided allegiances among military leaders and citizens during this tumultuous period.

By resigning from the U.S. Army, Lee prepared to take up command of the military forces of Virginia, a momentous role that would define his legacy. Lee's military acumen and leadership would later make him one of the most prominent figures of the Confederate States Army, influencing the strategies and outcomes of many battles throughout the Civil War.
April 20, 1861

Read more about Robert Edward LEE

1862 - On March 9, 1862 at Hampton Roads, Virginia, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimac) met in one of the most famous naval engagements in US history.
Their battle, the first of its kind between metal armored vessels, changed for all time the nature of naval warfare.
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1865 - April 9 - Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysees S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
Harried mercilessly by Federal troops and continually cut off from turning south, Lee headed west, eventually arriving in Appomattox County on April 8. Heading for the South Side Railroad at Appomattox Station, where food supplies awaited, the Confederates were cut off once again and nearly surrounded by Union troops near the small village of Appomattox Court House. Despite a final desperate attempt to escape, Lee’s army was trapped. General Lee surrendered his remaining troops to General Grant at the McLean House on the afternoon of April 9.

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Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox; Lee and troops forced to leave Richmond; setting fire to bridges along the way

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April 9, 1865

Read more about Robert Edward LEE

1869 - "An Old Farmer" Addresses Colored Voters.
We invite attention to the address of "An old Farmer" to the colored voters, published in this issue. He speaks plain, common sense in a frank manner, and gives the colored voters good counsel. It would be well for persons to read this short address to such colored men as are unable to read it themselves that they may reflect and act upon the counsel so frankly and honestly given them. As the colored men have secured the right to vote, they should not vote to deprive white men of the same right to vote, and hold office, and thereby put the Government into the hands of a few Yankee carpet-baggers to the injury of both white and colored. The colored voters have the right, of course, to vote as they please, at the election, and the whites have the right, of course, to act as they please after the election.
REGISTER ! REGISTER ! ! REGISTER! ! !
Staunton Spectator and Vindicator
Staunton, Virginia
Tues., June 15, 1869

1870 - Virginia re-entered Union
second floor room in Capitol building collapsed above chamber of House of Delegates, 62 killed, 251 injured; James River flooded, many lives lost, 20 homes swept away, damages estimated at $1 million
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1895 - Virginia
Virginia, ver-jin'e-q (Fr. Virginie, veer'zhee'nee'), an Atlantic state of the American Union, one of the original thirteen states, is bounded N.E. by Maryland, E. by Mary land and the Atlantic, S. by North Carolina and Tennessee, and N.W. by Kentucky and West Virginia. From Mary land it is divided, for the most part, by the river Potomac, from Kentucky by the Cumberland Mountains, and from West Virginia by a devious line which follows, in part, the crests of the Blue Ridge and other ridges of the Appalachian system of mountains. Area, 42,450 square miles. The boundary-line with Maryland is not settled, each claiming jurisdiction over all the waters of the Potomac...
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

February 11, 1899 - A "Great Eastern Blizzard" left a blanket of snow from Georgia to New Hampshire. The state of Virginia took the brunt of the storm, with snowfall totals averaging 30 to 40 inches.

WeatherForYou.com

February 10, 1899 - The temperature at Monterey plunged to 29 degrees below zero, establishing record for the state of Virginia.

WeatherForYou.com

1901 - Jim Crow laws passed, segregation created
The Jim Crow laws, enacted predominantly in Southern states of the United States beginning in the late 19th century, represent a significant historical event that institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. Named after a character from minstrel shows that depicted African Americans in derogatory and stereotypical ways, these laws enforced racial segregation in public facilities like schools, transportation, restrooms, and restaurants. The period from around 1901 saw a surge in the formalization and expansion of Jim Crow laws, fueled by a desire among white Southern politicians to maintain social and economic control over African Americans following Reconstruction.

These laws mandated separate facilities for blacks and whites, aiming to uphold white supremacy and preserve racial hierarchy. They also restricted African Americans' voting rights through literacy tests, poll taxes, and other discriminatory practices. The legal framework of Jim Crow persisted until the... Read MORE...

1908 - September 17 – At Fort Myer, Virginia, U.S.A., Thomas Selfridge becomes the first person to die in an airplane crash. The pilot, Orville Wright, is severely injured in the crash but recovers.
On September 17, 1908, a significant moment in aviation history unfolded at Fort Myer, Virginia, when tragedy struck during a demonstration flight conducted by Orville Wright, one half of the pioneering Wright brothers. Wright was piloting a new aircraft for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, accompanied by Thomas Selfridge, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. As the flight progressed, an unforeseen mechanical failure occurred, leading to the aircraft crashing from an altitude of about 75 feet.

The impact was devastating: Thomas Selfridge became the first person in history to perish in an airplane crash. Orville Wright, though severely injured, managed to survive the crash after being pulled from the wreckage.
September 17, 1908

Read more about Orville WRIGHT

1922 - May 12 – A 20-ton meteorite lands near Blackstone, Virginia, USA.
On May 12, 1922, a significant event occurred near Blackstone, Virginia, when a massive 20-ton meteorite crashed to Earth. This event captured widespread attention due to the sheer size and impact of the meteorite, which was one of the largest ever recorded in the United States at the time. The meteorite's landing created a large crater and caused a substantial explosion, leading to shockwaves felt over a wide area.

Scientists and researchers quickly mobilized to study the meteorite, examining its composition and origins. Meteorites provide valuable insights into the early solar system and are crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of celestial bodies.
May 12, 1922

1964 - Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel opened
The opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in 1964 marked a significant engineering feat in the United States. Stretching across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, this complex structure combined over 17 miles of bridges and tunnels, integrating four man-made islands along its route. The bridge-tunnel system was a response to the growing need for a reliable connection between Virginia's eastern shore and the mainland, facilitating smoother transportation and economic development in the region.

Opening amidst great fanfare and hailed as an engineering marvel, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel not only shortened travel times but also provided a safer alternative to the ferry services that previously operated in the area. Its completion symbolized a leap forward in civil engineering capabilities, showcasing American innovation and determination in overcoming natural obstacles for the benefit of regional connectivity and economic growth.
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1972 - Hurricane Agnes
June 21
As Agnes, downgraded to a tropical storm, approaches the Chesapeake Bay, a weak cold front ahead of it dumps one to three inches of rain on the region, on top of an already unusually wet winter and spring. The storm moves into the Washington area, killing 16, flooding thousands of homes, knocking out pumping stations and leaving much of Fairfax County without drinking water. (Limited service was restored after 35 hours, full service after eight days.) About 16 inches of rain falls across the region in one day.
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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Virginia:
Explore Colonial Williamsburg: Step back in time and experience life in 18th-century America. Visit historic buildings, interact with costumed interpreters, and learn about the nation's colonial history.

Tour Monticello: Visit the home of Thomas Jefferson, one of America's founding fathers. Take a guided tour of his beautiful estate and explore the gardens and museum.

Relax on Virginia Beach: Enjoy the sun, sand, and surf at Virginia Beach. It's a popular destination for beach lovers and offers a bustling boardwalk with shops, restaurants, and entertainment.

Hike Shenandoah National Park: Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails in Shenandoah National Park. The park offers stunning vistas, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife.

Visit Arlington National Cemetery: Pay your respects at this solemn and historic cemetery, where many of America's military heroes are buried, including President John F. Kennedy.

Experience the Blue Ridge Parkway: Drive along this scenic highway... Read MORE...