Thursday, December 11, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1725, 300 years ago exactly, George Mason was born in what is now Fairfax County. He became a leading figure in the run-up to the American Revolution, and his draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776 became a model for the Constitution’s Bill […]

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1606, the Virginia Company of London ordered colonists to seek out land in North America and establish a safe port 100 miles up a navigable river. From there, they were told to search for a “Northwest Passage,” but also to “have Great Care not to […]

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1775, Patriot forces stopped a British advance at Great Bridge, in what is now Chesapeake. In less than an hour of fighting, the British lost 100 men, while the Continental troops suffered just one wounded man. The Patriots pushed on to capture Norfolk, and British […]

Monday, December 8, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1984, a jury in Roanoke ruled that Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt was not guilty of libel against Reverend Jerry Falwell. However, the panel awarded Falwell $200,000 for inflicting emotional distress. We noted last week that K&W Cafeteria has permanently closed after 88 years of operation. […]

Friday, December 5, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1792, electors from 15 states (the original colonies plus Vermont and Kentucky) gathered to re-elect George Washington as president. He received 132 electoral votes, while his vice president, John Adams, was re-elected with 77 electoral votes. Most of the state is waking up to a wintry mix […]

Thursday, December 4, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1619, English settlers aboard the ship Margaret arrived at Berkeley Hundred on the James River. They hosted a ceremony of gratitude to mark their successful passage. It was the first such Thanksgiving celebration in English North America. A teacher in Colonial Heights is giving thanks after […]

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1867, the post-Civil War constitutional convention met for the first time in Richmond, drafting the Underwood Constitution to help pave the way for Virginia to rejoin the United States in 1870. George Washington supposedly couldn’t tell a lie, but today’s Virginians clearly can. A recent […]

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was introduced to Congress. Virginian James Monroe, whose presidency delivered the Era of Good Feelings, asserted that the entire Western Hemisphere was within the American sphere of influence. Virginians haven’t always managed to settle our differences peacefully, but a reader responding […]

Monday, December 1, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1921, the U.S. Navy blimp known as C-7 lifted off from Norfolk for the first time. The ship made several flights, including a round-trip to Washington, D.C. Last week, we asked you for examples of commonly mispronounced place names in Virginia. Our state is large […]

Thursday, November 27, 2025 Good Morning! On this day in 1926, Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin was authorized by John D. Rockefeller Jr. to begin restoration efforts at Colonial Williamsburg. Today, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation preserves more than 200 buildings, including 89 original structures. Happy Thanksgiving! This is an abbreviated holiday edition of The Virginia Flyover, as we […]