When it comes to innovation, invention, and…well, just trying new things, Virginia has been a leader from the beginning. Starting with the first permanent English settlement in 1607, Virginia has been the home to countless groundbreaking adventures, discoveries, and inventions. The following is a list of things invented in Virginia as well as some impressive accomplishments that first happened right here in the Old Dominion. Here are a few that you may or may not be familiar with…

  1. The first successful Electric Streetcar was invented in 1888.

Printed by Louis Kaufmann & Sons, Baltimore, MD (Public domain) / Wikimedia Commons Our list of impressive things invented in Virginia begins with the first electric streetcar. After 74 attempts around the world to create a proper electric trolley railway system, we finally nailed it in Richmond. In 1888, The Union Passenger Railway was the first electric railway system be more efficient than animal-powered trolleys. It was considered a milestone in engineering by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and set the stage, or laid the tracks rather, for future railway trolleys.

  1. The first fraternity in the United States was founded at William & Mary in 1776.

Sreejith K / Wikimedia Commons The first formal fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, was created at the College of William & Mary on December 5, 1776.

  1. And soon after, we brought you the first official streaker. You’re welcome, world.

Old School Movie / Facebook Thanks to George William Crump, not long after fraternities came in to being, streaking became a tradition at many colleges– or just a really bad choice on a Friday night. The first recorded streaker in U.S. history, Crump, a student at Washington and Lee, bared it all and ran through the streets of Lexington in 1804. Sure, he got suspended for a semester, but went on to become a senator. Go figure.

  1. Sorry, Pilgrims. We also had the first Thanksgiving in 1619.

Desiree Williams / flickr Nearly 2 years before the Pilgrims sat down to feast at Plymouth Rock, 38 English colonists arrived at Berkeley Hundred, site of the Berkeley Plantation. On December 4, 1619, they held a feast as a way of giving thanks to God for their safe arrival in the New World.

  1. Gabby Douglas became the first African American to win gymnastics gold in 2012.

Melissa Hillier / flickr Gabby Douglas of Virginia Beach became the first African American to win an all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the London Games in 2012.

  1. The first public theater in the U.S. was built in 1716.

William Hogarth (Public Domain) / Wikimedia Commons We may not have Broadway, but we started it all with the first theater in North American in 1716. The theater was built on the Palace Green in the colonial capital of Williamsburg.

  1. Chapstick was invented in the early 1880s in Lynchburg.

Classic Film / flickr That’s right, every time that little miracle stick saves you from dry, cracked, chapped lips, just remember Dr. Charles Browne Fleet from Lynchburg, who invented ChapStick in the early 1880s.

  1. The first commercial crop of peanuts was grown in the mid 1800s.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / flickr Peanuts were introduced to North America by Africans in the late 1700s, but weren’t an important agricultural crop until the first half of the 19th century when the first commercial crop was grown in Sussex County. As more and more ways were found to use these protein-packed “ground nuts,” peanuts soon rivaled cotton as a cash crop in the South.

  1. The first free public school started in Hampton in 1634.

Library of Congress / Wikispaces In 1634, the Syms-Eaton Free School was established by Benjamin Syms to provide schooling for the children of Hampton, Elizabeth City and Poquoson. Syms donated 200 acres and 8 cows to help the school get its start.

  1. The first Mechanical Reaper for grain was invented in 1831.

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons Cyrus McCormick of Rockbridge County combined the work of multiple farming tools to create the mechanical reaper in 1831. Before he perfected his design, harvesting grain had been backbreaking, time-consuming work. His invention allowed farmers to increase crop yields up to 200% and is the basis of today’s commercial machines.

ChiemseeMan (Public Domain) / Wikimedia Commons This modern day reaper shows how McCormick’s design is still used today.

  1. America’s first IVF baby was born in 1981.

Christine Szeto / flickr The first successful IVF pregnancy in the U.S. happened at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. A healthy baby girl was born by Caesarian on December 28, 1981.

  1. The invention of a Smallpox Vaccine Needle changed healthcare in 1961.

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass / Wikimedia Commons A vaccination needle might seem trivial, but what good is a vaccine if you don’t have a good way of administering it? Virginia Tech graduate Benjamin Rubin invented the bifurcated needle that allowed for just the right dose of the vaccine. The needle was the World Health Organization’s primary tool during their Smallpox Eradication Campaign from 1966 -1977.

  1. The fIrst formal law school program was started at William & Mary in 1779.

Rpogge (Own work) [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons In 1762, George Wythe, a prominent Williamsburg lawyer, took a young William & Mary grad named Thomas Jefferson under his wing and trained him in the field of law. With no schools offering a formal law degree at the time, Jefferson and Wythe recognized a new need for the nation. And so in 1779 while serving as governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson encouraged the creation of a new degree in law at his alma mater with Wythe as the first professor. John Marshall, who became the Chief Justice of the United States in 1801, also studied under Wythe in 1780. The statue of Wythe and Marshall shown above now sits outside of the William & Mary School of Law.

  1. The first President of the United States was born in Virginia in 1732.

Gilbert Stuart [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons George Washington may have been the first, but he was far from the last president to be born in Virginia. In fact, 4 of the first 5 presidents and 8 presidents in total were from Virginia, earning us the nickname “Mother of Presidents.”

  1. The Wright Brother tested the first military aircraft at Ft. Meyer in 1908.

Michael L. Kaufman (Public Domain) / Wikimedia Commons While it would be years before a formal military air program was established, the Wright Brothers began pushing for it soon after their first successful air crafts were invented. The first test flights at a military installment were held at Ft. Meyers in 1908. Sadly, this was also the site of the first airplane-related fatality in September 1908 when Army Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge died from injuries sustained during a crash.

  1. The first “Mental Hospital” was established in Williamsburg in 1773.

Via Tsuji / flickr

Rebecca Morgan / flickr The Public Hospital in Williamsburg is the oldest psychiatric hospital in the nation and the first hospital specifically purposed for treatment of the mentally ill. Founded in 1773, the Public Hospital was built at a time when mental illness was not diagnosed by a doctor, but rather by a jury-like group of 12 citizens who gave a verdict of “criminal, lunatic or idiot”.

Did we leave anything off the list? Do you know of any other things invented in Virginia? Let us know about any Virginia firsts that we may have overlooked in the comments below!

Printed by Louis Kaufmann & Sons, Baltimore, MD (Public domain) / Wikimedia Commons

Our list of impressive things invented in Virginia begins with the first electric streetcar. After 74 attempts around the world to create a proper electric trolley railway system, we finally nailed it in Richmond. In 1888, The Union Passenger Railway was the first electric railway system be more efficient than animal-powered trolleys. It was considered a milestone in engineering by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and set the stage, or laid the tracks rather, for future railway trolleys.

Sreejith K / Wikimedia Commons

The first formal fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, was created at the College of William & Mary on December 5, 1776.

Old School Movie / Facebook

Thanks to George William Crump, not long after fraternities came in to being, streaking became a tradition at many colleges– or just a really bad choice on a Friday night. The first recorded streaker in U.S. history, Crump, a student at Washington and Lee, bared it all and ran through the streets of Lexington in 1804. Sure, he got suspended for a semester, but went on to become a senator. Go figure.

Desiree Williams / flickr

Nearly 2 years before the Pilgrims sat down to feast at Plymouth Rock, 38 English colonists arrived at Berkeley Hundred, site of the Berkeley Plantation. On December 4, 1619, they held a feast as a way of giving thanks to God for their safe arrival in the New World.

Melissa Hillier / flickr

Gabby Douglas of Virginia Beach became the first African American to win an all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the London Games in 2012.

William Hogarth (Public Domain) / Wikimedia Commons

We may not have Broadway, but we started it all with the first theater in North American in 1716. The theater was built on the Palace Green in the colonial capital of Williamsburg.

Classic Film / flickr

That’s right, every time that little miracle stick saves you from dry, cracked, chapped lips, just remember Dr. Charles Browne Fleet from Lynchburg, who invented ChapStick in the early 1880s.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / flickr

Peanuts were introduced to North America by Africans in the late 1700s, but weren’t an important agricultural crop until the first half of the 19th century when the first commercial crop was grown in Sussex County. As more and more ways were found to use these protein-packed “ground nuts,” peanuts soon rivaled cotton as a cash crop in the South.

Library of Congress / Wikispaces

In 1634, the Syms-Eaton Free School was established by Benjamin Syms to provide schooling for the children of Hampton, Elizabeth City and Poquoson. Syms donated 200 acres and 8 cows to help the school get its start.

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Cyrus McCormick of Rockbridge County combined the work of multiple farming tools to create the mechanical reaper in 1831. Before he perfected his design, harvesting grain had been backbreaking, time-consuming work. His invention allowed farmers to increase crop yields up to 200% and is the basis of today’s commercial machines.

ChiemseeMan (Public Domain) / Wikimedia Commons

This modern day reaper shows how McCormick’s design is still used today.

Christine Szeto / flickr

The first successful IVF pregnancy in the U.S. happened at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. A healthy baby girl was born by Caesarian on December 28, 1981.

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass / Wikimedia Commons

A vaccination needle might seem trivial, but what good is a vaccine if you don’t have a good way of administering it? Virginia Tech graduate Benjamin Rubin invented the bifurcated needle that allowed for just the right dose of the vaccine. The needle was the World Health Organization’s primary tool during their Smallpox Eradication Campaign from 1966 -1977.

Rpogge (Own work) [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons

In 1762, George Wythe, a prominent Williamsburg lawyer, took a young William & Mary grad named Thomas Jefferson under his wing and trained him in the field of law. With no schools offering a formal law degree at the time, Jefferson and Wythe recognized a new need for the nation. And so in 1779 while serving as governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson encouraged the creation of a new degree in law at his alma mater with Wythe as the first professor. John Marshall, who became the Chief Justice of the United States in 1801, also studied under Wythe in 1780. The statue of Wythe and Marshall shown above now sits outside of the William & Mary School of Law.

Gilbert Stuart [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons

George Washington may have been the first, but he was far from the last president to be born in Virginia. In fact, 4 of the first 5 presidents and 8 presidents in total were from Virginia, earning us the nickname “Mother of Presidents.”

Michael L. Kaufman (Public Domain) / Wikimedia Commons

While it would be years before a formal military air program was established, the Wright Brothers began pushing for it soon after their first successful air crafts were invented. The first test flights at a military installment were held at Ft. Meyers in 1908. Sadly, this was also the site of the first airplane-related fatality in September 1908 when Army Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge died from injuries sustained during a crash.

Via Tsuji / flickr

Rebecca Morgan / flickr

The Public Hospital in Williamsburg is the oldest psychiatric hospital in the nation and the first hospital specifically purposed for treatment of the mentally ill. Founded in 1773, the Public Hospital was built at a time when mental illness was not diagnosed by a doctor, but rather by a jury-like group of 12 citizens who gave a verdict of “criminal, lunatic or idiot”.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

things invented in Virginia September 26, 2021 Beth C. What is Virginia known for? When most people think of Virginia, the state’s many historical attractions come to mind. Virginia is known as the “Birthplace Of A Nation” because Jamestown was the first English settlement. Of course, Virginia’s history long extends before this settlement by colonists, as Native Americans had long been living in the region. Today, Virginia is well known for its Native American and colonial history. Some attractions that people most often associated with Virginia include Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, the Pentagon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia’s Nature Bridge, Manassas National Battlefield, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Mount Vernon, and Monticello. What are the most famous outdoor attractions in Virginia? While Virginia has an extensive history, its outdoor attractions are equally as impressive. If you’re putting together an outdoor bucket list for Virginia, you should include a range of sites, from the mountains to the coast. Some of our top recommendations for outdoor attractions in Virginia include Savage Neck Dunes, Compton Peak Summit, Hawksbill Mountain, Panther Falls, False Cape State Park, Staunton River State Park, Birch Knob Tower, the New River Trail, Hungry Mother State Park, Rose River Falls, Great Dismal Swamp, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, the James River, and Huntley Meadows State Park. How many of these outdoor attractions in Virginia have you experienced? What’s the most famous park in Virginia? If you can only visit one park in Virginia, it should be Shenandoah National Park. One of the most popular parks on the East Coast, this breathtaking destination will impress just about anyone. When you visit Shenandoah National Park, you can look forward to driving Skyline Drive, the scenic route that takes you through the entire park. No matter the time of year, you’ll be captivated by the park’s breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, densely wooded trails, and opportunity for viewing wildlife.

The OIYS Visitor Center

things invented in Virginia

September 26, 2021

Beth C.

What is Virginia known for? When most people think of Virginia, the state’s many historical attractions come to mind. Virginia is known as the “Birthplace Of A Nation” because Jamestown was the first English settlement. Of course, Virginia’s history long extends before this settlement by colonists, as Native Americans had long been living in the region. Today, Virginia is well known for its Native American and colonial history. Some attractions that people most often associated with Virginia include Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, the Pentagon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia’s Nature Bridge, Manassas National Battlefield, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Mount Vernon, and Monticello. What are the most famous outdoor attractions in Virginia? While Virginia has an extensive history, its outdoor attractions are equally as impressive. If you’re putting together an outdoor bucket list for Virginia, you should include a range of sites, from the mountains to the coast. Some of our top recommendations for outdoor attractions in Virginia include Savage Neck Dunes, Compton Peak Summit, Hawksbill Mountain, Panther Falls, False Cape State Park, Staunton River State Park, Birch Knob Tower, the New River Trail, Hungry Mother State Park, Rose River Falls, Great Dismal Swamp, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, the James River, and Huntley Meadows State Park. How many of these outdoor attractions in Virginia have you experienced? What’s the most famous park in Virginia? If you can only visit one park in Virginia, it should be Shenandoah National Park. One of the most popular parks on the East Coast, this breathtaking destination will impress just about anyone. When you visit Shenandoah National Park, you can look forward to driving Skyline Drive, the scenic route that takes you through the entire park. No matter the time of year, you’ll be captivated by the park’s breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, densely wooded trails, and opportunity for viewing wildlife.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

When most people think of Virginia, the state’s many historical attractions come to mind. Virginia is known as the “Birthplace Of A Nation” because Jamestown was the first English settlement. Of course, Virginia’s history long extends before this settlement by colonists, as Native Americans had long been living in the region. Today, Virginia is well known for its Native American and colonial history. Some attractions that people most often associated with Virginia include Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, the Pentagon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia’s Nature Bridge, Manassas National Battlefield, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Mount Vernon, and Monticello.

What are the most famous outdoor attractions in Virginia?

While Virginia has an extensive history, its outdoor attractions are equally as impressive. If you’re putting together an outdoor bucket list for Virginia, you should include a range of sites, from the mountains to the coast. Some of our top recommendations for outdoor attractions in Virginia include Savage Neck Dunes, Compton Peak Summit, Hawksbill Mountain, Panther Falls, False Cape State Park, Staunton River State Park, Birch Knob Tower, the New River Trail, Hungry Mother State Park, Rose River Falls, Great Dismal Swamp, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, the James River, and Huntley Meadows State Park. How many of these outdoor attractions in Virginia have you experienced?

What’s the most famous park in Virginia?

If you can only visit one park in Virginia, it should be Shenandoah National Park. One of the most popular parks on the East Coast, this breathtaking destination will impress just about anyone. When you visit Shenandoah National Park, you can look forward to driving Skyline Drive, the scenic route that takes you through the entire park. No matter the time of year, you’ll be captivated by the park’s breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, densely wooded trails, and opportunity for viewing wildlife.