Historical Sites
Colonial - When it comes to history, Virginia is the champ. About 2
hrs. East of C’ville is the Colonial Triangle. At one end of the 30-odd
mile, beautiful Colonial Parkway with its vistas on the James and York
rivers lays Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in
America. (The 400th anniversary is coming up in 2007). The site
itself is a National Park, while nearby the state has built a well done
museum complete with reconstructions of the original fort, the ships
that brought the colonists, and an Indian village. At the other end of
the Parkway is Yorktown, site of the battle that sealed America’s
independence. This site is also a National Park featuring rebuilt
earthworks from the siege of Yorktown. The state has also built a
museum nearby, the Yorktown Victory Center. Between the two lies
Colonial Williamsburg, the gem of historical preservation sites. It
recreates the Colonial Capitol of Virginia, by far the largest colony in
1776. The Governor’s Palace, the Capitol Building, Bruton Parrish
Church and the Wren Building at the adjoining College of William and
Mary are particularly not to be missed. Between Williamsburg and
Richmond along the James are a series of plantation homes with
Berkeley and Shirley being particularly interesting.
Civil War - For those interested in somewhat more recent history,
Richmond of course was the capitol of the Confederacy during the
War of Northern Aggression (sometimes called the Civil War by the
unenlightened). The State Capitol (designed by Thomas Jefferson)
served the same purpose for the Confederacy. Nearby are the
Confederate White House and the Museum of the Confederacy. East
of Richmond is its National Battlefield Park which preserves sites from
the Peninsular Campaign (1862), Cold Harbor (1864), and the siege
of Richmond and Petersburg (1864-5). The visitor centers at
Chimborazo (a Civil War hospital) and Tredegar Iron Works (source of
many of the South’s cannon) are fascinating. Petersburg also was the
site of the Battle of the Crater (1864) that inspired the opening scenes
of the movie Cold Mountain. The state has also recently opened a
park commemorating the Civil War at Pamplin near Richmond.
Many of the other greatest battles of the war were fought in an arc
stretching north and west from Richmond. Numerous National
Battlefield Parks preserve these sites. Fredericksburg (1862),
Spotsylvania (1864), the Wilderness (1864), and Chancellorsville
(1863) -- all within about 90 minutes of C’ville --are especially
interesting. Another notable, if sad to a southerner, Civil War site –
Appomattox -- is about an hour south.
Presidents - Nearer C’ville is President’s country. Madison’s
Montpellier is a short hour north. It is currently undergoing extensive
renovation to clear away the numerous 20th century additions of its
Dupont owners and restore its Madison-era state. Ashlawn, Monroe’s’
home and site of the rehearsal dinner, is just outside town and down
the road from Jefferson’s gem, Monticello. Also very nearby is Michie
Tavern, a relocated 18th century tavern that serves an old South
lunch and has a small museum. In town, of course, is the University of
Virginia. Its nucleus, The Lawn, was designed by Jefferson and
designated the supreme architectural achievement in the United
States at the Bicentennial. (Could it be that the architect’s identity
influenced the choice?)