Discover Virginia: 18 Entertaining Fun Facts to Amaze and Delight You!

1. Jazz-Loving Pigs and Smithfield Hams

Where pigs snack on fruits and nuts while lounging to jazz tunes: Virginia is home to the iconic Smithfield hams, made from razorback hogs that are specifically nourished on peanuts and peaches before being smoked over apple and hickory wood, culminating in a scrumptious and smoky delight enjoyed all year round.
Source => patch.com

2. Virginia vs. West Virginia Civil War Drama

If Virginia and West Virginia were on a reality TV show, we'd all be glued to the screen watching their dramatic breakup unfold: In 1861, during the Civil War, the Restored Government of Virginia voted to form a new state called West Virginia, which was conditionally admitted to the Union in 1862, officially became a state in 1863, and even participated in a spicy Supreme Court case to settle their border disputes in 1871.
Source => archives.gov

Did you know that Maryland single-handedly supplies half of the nation's blue crabs and a whopping 47 million pounds of fresh seafood annually? Discover the true "Claws of Production" and more fascinating facts!

=> Fun Facts about Maryland

3. Presidential Birthplace Battle: Virginia vs. Ohio

If the United States were an exclusive club for commanders-in-chief, Virginia and Ohio could be the founding members, chattering away in powdered wigs and knee-breeches: Virginia takes the lead by being the birthplace of 8 U.S. presidents, closely followed by Ohio with 7. Among the 21 states responsible for spawning leaders of the free world, these two clearly win the geological popularity contest.
Source => rd.com

4. Virginia's Wine and Cider Wonderland

Who said Virginia is for lovers? It's actually for grape and apple crushers, especially those with a penchant for history and a flair for outdoor fun: Nestled cozily on the Northern Neck peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers on the Chesapeake Bay, this enchanting region boasts not just historic sites and recreational activities, but a medley of wineries and cideries that would make Dionysus proud.
Source => virginiaoystertrail.com

5. The Pentagon: World's Largest Office Maze

If you're ever feeling lost in the maze of your work life, just remember that there's a building in Virginia that even Daedalus would be proud of: The Pentagon, located in Virginia, is the world's largest office building with a whopping 6.5 million square feet of floor space, 17.5 miles of corridors, five sides, and five floors above ground. Housing around 26,000 employees on 28.7 acres of land and an extra 5.1 acres as a central courtyard, this labyrinthian wonder was built during World War II in just 16 months costing $83 million.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Plant-Parenting

Forget being home alone with your plants – Thomas Jefferson took plant-parenting to a whole new level: At Monticello, his Virginia estate, Jefferson's botanical babies weren't just for decoration, but also an experimental amalgamation of ornamental and useful plants from around the world, boasting meticulously crafted gardens and serving edible delights for the family.
Source => monticello.org

7. Chincoteague Ponies: Beach Bums of Virginia

In a tale of shipwrecked Spanish horses turned beach bums, living their lives grazing on seaside buffets and taking leisurely swims: The Chincoteague Ponies of Virginia's Assateague Island are thought to have descended from horses aboard a sunken Spanish galleon centuries ago. These wild ponies feed on dune and marsh grasses, drink freshwater from ponds, and participate in the annual pony auction - where Saltwater Cowboys guide them on a swim from Assateague to Chincoteague Island. This event, attended by tens of thousands of people, helps the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company raise funds and keeps the pony population within the refuge grazing permit's 150 adult limit.
Source => chincoteague.com

8. Sunday Bans: Deer Safe, Raccoons Beware

Oh deer, what a religious conundrum: hunting is forbidden on Sundays in Virginia due to long-standing blue laws that govern businesses and certain activities on this holy day, pushing people to attend church instead. Fear not, raccoons, foxes, and opossums - you are granted an unholy reprieve, as exceptions are made for these pesky critters!
Source => discoverwalks.com

9. Monticello's Nickel-Worthy Home Design

In a move that would make today's architects flip their blueprints, our founding father Thomas Jefferson dabbled in home design with a certain je ne sais quois: Virginia's Monticello was not only his abode for over 40 years, but also a masterpiece of his own architectural prowess. This iconic estate was so esteemed, it graced the back of the U.S. nickel from 1938 to 2003, and made a triumphant return in 2006 after a brief Westward Journey Nickel Series interlude.
Source => usmint.gov

10. Virginia's Singing Cardinals & Mirror Fights

In Virginia, local cardinals often hold private concerts and engage in "mirror fights" – it's not a reality show, it's just spring fever: The state bird, the Northern Cardinal, has singing females who communicate with males about food and nesting, while the males become aggressively territorial in spring, sometimes even attacking their own reflections, and this behavior mellows out as summer approaches.
Source => birdwatchingacademy.com

11. Natural Bridge: Virginia's Quirky Monument

When you need a bridge that's 100 feet wide with walls that span 90 feet, but want to mix-n-match the heights like mismatched socks: check out Virginia's Natural Bridge! Formed from limestone, this quirky monument measures 205 feet on the north side and 270 feet on the south, while being 50 feet thick. Considered sacred by the Monacan Indians, the 250-year-old site also tickled the fancy of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who couldn't resist owning land nearby.
Source => cabincreekwood.com

12. Maritime Marvels at The Mariners' Museum

Ahoy there, maritime history aficionados! In the landlocked state of Virginia, a 115-ton rotating gun turret walks into a bar and orders a hefty shot of rust removal: Nestled within the Batten Conservation Complex at The Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia is the astounding treasure trove of USS Monitor's artifacts, including its massive gun turret, two Dahlgren guns, and steam propulsion engine. As the home to the world's largest marine archaeological metals conservation project, the complex gives audiences a glimpse of over 210 tons of material skillfully excavated and diligently preserved by their beyond 'shipshape' archaeological conservators.
Source => marinersmuseum.org

13. Great Dismal Swamp: Rebellion & Ecology

Who ordered the boggy special? Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp comes with a side of rebellion and a generous dollop of environmental heroics: Once a hidden haven for Indigenous and African American communities escaping colonization and enslavement, and an Underground Railroad stop, it now nurtures Swainson's warbler pop and swamps carbon emissions like no tomorrow!
Source => wilderness.org

14. Virginia: Peanut Paradise

Next time you're nutty for a PB&J, think about this: Virginia is one of the top peanut-growing states in the U.S., ranking fifth in the nation for peanut production in 2020, with approximately 12,000 acres of peanuts grown annually, each yielding around 2,900 pounds.
Source => thedailymeal.com

15. Norfolk's Love Lock-Losers

In the land of lovers shackled by devotion, the City of Norfolk took a stand against key-losing romantic rebels: from 2015-2017, the Norfolk City Council enforced Virginia law and had love padlocks removed from a pedestrian bridge in the historic neighborhood of Ghent, since they were deemed illegal obstructions in a right-of-way.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

16. Grape Party: Virginia's Wine Scene

Who knew Virginia could throw such a grape party? The state is truly "wine-ing" its way to the top: With 312 wineries across ten regions and eight AVAs, Virginia boasts one of the fastest-growing wine industries in the U.S. Its diverse geology, ranging in elevation from zilch to 5,729 feet, allows for a wide variety of grapes to flourish. Reborn in the 1970s, Virginia's exciting wine scene continues to innovate and experiment with new grape varieties every year.
Source => daily.sevenfifty.com

17. Colonial Williamsburg: Time-Travel Party

Step right up, time travelers and LARP-aficionados: Did you know that Colonial Williamsburg is a living, breathing museum-meets-Revolutionary-War-Renaissance-Fair? Yep, visitors can rub elbows with James Madison and Martha Washington impersonators, witness expert artisans flexing their historic skills, and even eavesdrop on tense trade talks at the American Indian Encampment. And for the cherry on the 18th-century sundae, this trip down memory lane doesn't shy away from the truth, with African American interpretation shedding light on the lives of both enslaved and free Black Americans who made up over half of Williamsburg's population.
Source => colonialwilliamsburg.org

18. Norfolk: The Real-Life Mermaid Kingdom

In a tale that would make Ariel green with envy, Virginia's Norfolk took a deep dive and turned the city into a real-life "Mermaid Kingdom" to enchant both locals and tourists alike: In 1999, attorney Peter Decker introduced "Mermaids on Parade," leading to the adoption of 130 fiberglass mermaid statues decorated by local artists, which now splash their charm all across Norfolk and beyond – a whimsical affair that continues to make waves in and around the city!
Source => norfolk.gov