Belle Grove Plantation
We went to Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Va., because it showed up on “best plantations in the U.S.” lists…except it doesn’t, actually. While we were touring it I was thinking “really, this is a …
Category: History
Luray Caverns
Visiting Luray Caverns in Luray, Va., had me thinking of the line delivered by Randal Graves in Clerks: “This job would be great if it wasn’t for the [bleeping] customers.” For Luray Caverns would be …
“Declaring Independence” at the University of Virginia
We often think of the Declaration of Independence as that parchment document that was signed by the founding fathers on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Penn., just as it was portrayed in John Trumbull’s painting …
Patsy Cline Historic House and Gravesite
The Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester, Va., was the home of the country music legend for five years, 1948-1953, when she was 16 until her first marriage at age 21. Born Virginia Patterson Hensley …
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Neither of us are big country music fans in particular, but since we’re open to all kinds of experiences, we thought we ought to stop at a place labeled the “birthplace” of country music. I …
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest
Most people have heard of Thomas Jefferson’s main home Monticello, but how about his “retreat home,” Poplar Forest, in Lynchburg, Va.? We had previously visited Monticello, which is about 80 miles away, and is fabulous. …
O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum
I’m not even sure how the O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum wound up on our radar, but it was a quite a gem. The museum features the work of photographer O. Winston Link …
Atlanta History Center
Doug and I made time to visit the Atlanta History Center (AHC) since there were four exhibits that we wanted to see, one of which was temporary and so we wanted to make sure we …
Architecture / Books / History / Museums
The Foxfire Museum
The Foxfire Museum in Mountain City, Ga., must have one of the most unique origin stories I’ve ever heard. In 1966, an English teacher at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School created a magazine with his students, researching …
The Road to Tara Museum
Gone With the Wind (GWTW) by Margaret Mitchell, the American classic published in 1936, is set in Atlanta and Clayton County, Ga. The Road to Tara Museum is in Jonesboro, Ga., in the heart of …