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Nobody asked but I'm giving it to you anyway.
Every day I'll be giving you what I think are the most interesting sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places in every county in Virginia.
Every day I'll be giving you what I think are the most interesting sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places in every county in Virginia.
Accomack County:
Debtors' Prison - This tiny building was found to be only one piece of a large prison complex commissioned in 1775 and finished in 1782. For historians excavating the area, it became very useful for finding out how early Americans structured their penal code.
Debtors' Prison - This tiny building was found to be only one piece of a large prison complex commissioned in 1775 and finished in 1782. For historians excavating the area, it became very useful for finding out how early Americans structured their penal code.
Accomack County:
Tangier Historical District - Due to climate change and the frequent intense hurricanes in the 2000s, this island is slowly losing ground to the Chesapeake Bay. It is also Virginia's only car-less town, making it Virginia's "Venice."
Tangier Historical District - Due to climate change and the frequent intense hurricanes in the 2000s, this island is slowly losing ground to the Chesapeake Bay. It is also Virginia's only car-less town, making it Virginia's "Venice."
Albemarle County:
The Rotunda - Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, Thomas Jefferson designed this building to be the centerpiece of his University of Virginia.
Built by slaves, it was completed in late 1826, shortly after Jefferson's death on July 4.
The Rotunda - Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, Thomas Jefferson designed this building to be the centerpiece of his University of Virginia.
Built by slaves, it was completed in late 1826, shortly after Jefferson's death on July 4.
Albemarle County
The Rotunda (cont'd) - In 1885, a fire gutted the Rotunda. Students rushed in to save many books, artifacts, works of art and scientific instruments inside.
The infamous New York architect Stanford White, oversaw the renovation of the Rotunda from 1885-1889.
The Rotunda (cont'd) - In 1885, a fire gutted the Rotunda. Students rushed in to save many books, artifacts, works of art and scientific instruments inside.
The infamous New York architect Stanford White, oversaw the renovation of the Rotunda from 1885-1889.
Albemarle County:
Highland - This small unassuming house was actually the home and plantation of James Monroe. Purchasing the neighboring lot of Monticello, Monroe's family lived here alongside approximately 40 slaves for 25 years.
Highland - This small unassuming house was actually the home and plantation of James Monroe. Purchasing the neighboring lot of Monticello, Monroe's family lived here alongside approximately 40 slaves for 25 years.
Alexandria:
Franklin and Armfield Office - This home became the headquarters of the largest slave trading firm in the United States. Built in 1810, it was purchased by Isaac Franklin and John Armfield in 1828. It is now a museum dedicated to the slave trade in Virginia.
Franklin and Armfield Office - This home became the headquarters of the largest slave trading firm in the United States. Built in 1810, it was purchased by Isaac Franklin and John Armfield in 1828. It is now a museum dedicated to the slave trade in Virginia.
Alexandria:
George Washington Masonic National Memorial - Harvey Wiley Corbett was hired by the Freemasons to design a monument to George Washington in 1918. He was both inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt and the restored lighthouse at Ostia Antica in Italy.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial - Harvey Wiley Corbett was hired by the Freemasons to design a monument to George Washington in 1918. He was both inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt and the restored lighthouse at Ostia Antica in Italy.
Alexandria:
George Washington Masonic National Memorial (cont'd) - It was not finished until 1932 when it became Virginia's tallest building. It remained Virginia's tallest building until 1978 when the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond was topped out.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial (cont'd) - It was not finished until 1932 when it became Virginia's tallest building. It remained Virginia's tallest building until 1978 when the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond was topped out.
Alleghany County:
Humpback Covered Bridge - When it was realized that covered bridges had 10x the lifespan of uncovered bridges in the early 1800s, they showed up across the country. This particular bridge was used from 1857 to 1929. It was restored in the 1950s.
Humpback Covered Bridge - When it was realized that covered bridges had 10x the lifespan of uncovered bridges in the early 1800s, they showed up across the country. This particular bridge was used from 1857 to 1929. It was restored in the 1950s.
Amelia County:
Sayler's Creek Battlefield - it was here where Gen. Sheridan defeated the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. After the death of almost 10,000 soldiers, it was the last major engagement of the war in Virginia with Lee's surrendering at Appomattox 3 days later.
Sayler's Creek Battlefield - it was here where Gen. Sheridan defeated the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. After the death of almost 10,000 soldiers, it was the last major engagement of the war in Virginia with Lee's surrendering at Appomattox 3 days later.
Amherst County:
Sweet Briar - The land that this women's college sits on used to be the plantation of the mayor of Lynchburg, Elijah Fletcher. He owned 110 slaves. Some of the slaves' descendants currently work for the college on the land and they hold family reunions every year
Sweet Briar - The land that this women's college sits on used to be the plantation of the mayor of Lynchburg, Elijah Fletcher. He owned 110 slaves. Some of the slaves' descendants currently work for the college on the land and they hold family reunions every year
Amherst County:
Bear Mountain Indian Mission School - Built in 1868, this one-room school house was built by Episcopalians as a way to both bring education to the local Monacan tribe while also hoping to assimilate them into white Christian society.
Bear Mountain Indian Mission School - Built in 1868, this one-room school house was built by Episcopalians as a way to both bring education to the local Monacan tribe while also hoping to assimilate them into white Christian society.
Appomattox County:
Appomattox Court House National Historic Park - Possibly the important site in Virginia, this series of buildings was where the final battle of the Civil War was fought and where Robert E. Lee surrendered.
Appomattox Court House National Historic Park - Possibly the important site in Virginia, this series of buildings was where the final battle of the Civil War was fought and where Robert E. Lee surrendered.
Appomattox County:
Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center - This camp is one of the few remaining youth camps built during the Great Depression through the Works Program Administration. Built in 1937, the goal was to educate the youth of America on citizenship and the environment.
Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center - This camp is one of the few remaining youth camps built during the Great Depression through the Works Program Administration. Built in 1937, the goal was to educate the youth of America on citizenship and the environment.
Arlington County:
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington - During the Civil Rights Movement, this church was the only one in Virginia to speak out in favor of racial integration. The building was designed by Charles M. Goodman in the Brutalist style.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington - During the Civil Rights Movement, this church was the only one in Virginia to speak out in favor of racial integration. The building was designed by Charles M. Goodman in the Brutalist style.
Arlington County:
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial - This house, built in 1803, was the first example of the Greek Revival in the United States. George Washington and Lee's families are related by marriage and this house is a testament to their familial connection.
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial - This house, built in 1803, was the first example of the Greek Revival in the United States. George Washington and Lee's families are related by marriage and this house is a testament to their familial connection.
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial (cont'd) - The house fell into disrepair during the Civil War and after Lee surrendered, he never returned. It was in the hands of Congress, so in 1925, it was restored so that by 1955, it was established as a memorial to Robert E. Lee.
