Escape to the Southeast - 2009-10 Edition

VIRGINIA

active eagle nesting, the refuge is a breeding ground for great blue herons with more than 1,200 nests occupied there. Visitors also can view the refuge along two trails, one through woods and one in Great Marsh.

Virginia Beach and Boardwalk. America’s longest commercial beach is also one of America’s favorite. The three-mile concrete boardwalk is full of activity with bicyclists, strollers, roller bladders and people-watchers. During the summer three oceanfront stages offer nightly entertainment. This vibrant attraction features family activities, outdoor recreational facilities, year-round events and a diverse selection of restaurants and shopping opportunities.

Maymont—Richmond. Once a private 100-acre Victorian estate, Maymont was bestowed to Richmond in 1925 as a public park and museum. A true family attraction, Maymont offers tours of the Victorian mansion, exhibits of wildlife native to Virginia, themed gardens, Nature Center and Children’s Farm.

History Lives Here

Virginia’s rich history includes more than the Civil War. The fight for equality in education was waged in Farmville, air and space is chronicled in Dulles, and Virginia’s coal mining heritage is displayed daily in Big Stone Gap. Discover something new in Virginia’s diverse history.

Virginia Civil War Trails— Statewide. More Civil War battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state — by far. Armies campaigned, fought and camped for four years over the landscape. The Virginia Civil War Trails program marks more than 400 historic sites, most for the first time, telling the dramatic story of what happened on the sites where it happened. Free maps are available in Welcome Centers and visitor centers throughout the Commonwealth.

Booker T. Washington National Monument—Franklin County. This is the site of famed educator and presidential advisor Booker T. Washington’s birth, early life, and emancipation. The park’s visitor center contains exhibits on Washington’s life and offers an audio-visual program interpreting his career and accomplishments.

Richmond National Battlefield Park—Metro Richmond. As the seat of Confederate government Richmond was a special target of Union military strategy, and some of the fiercest battles of the war were fought around the city. The Visitor Center houses engaging exhibits and artifacts while protected and interpreted battlefields such as Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill let visitors walk where soldiers fought.

Arlington National Cemetery— Arlington. Veterans of every American war from the Revolution to the country’s most recent conflicts are buried at Arlington. Among the more than 260,000 dead are three unidentified service members, buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite is marked by an eternal flame.

Architectural Walking Tours— Statewide. So many of Virginia’s cities and towns preserve the architecture of historic commercial and residential districts. Stop by a welcome center and ask for walking tour brochures. Ornate downtown facades and dramatic interiors are complemented by the grace and

charm of Victorian, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival homes. Surprises abound when looking up from the sidewalk.

Abingdon Historic District. The town of Abingdon is located in Washington County in the Blue Ridge Highlands region of Virginia. It was named after the ancestral home of Martha Washington, and is a Virginia Historic Landmark. The 20-square block Historic District includes historic sites, cultural activities and museums. Abingdon is also one of the towns along The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.

Fort Monroe/Casemate Museum— Hampton. Fort Monroe was originally completed in 1834 and has served as an army base since then. During the Civil War escaped slaves flocked to the fort for protection. After the collapse of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis was confined as a prisoner in a damp cell within the casemate. The Casemate Museum tells the story of the fort and its historic occupants within the arched masonry now more than 150 years old.

Lexington’s Historic Campuses and Museums. Lexington is a small town dream. Located in the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, Lexington is home to Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. Both campuses are littered with historic buildings and statues — and each has compelling museums. The VMI Museum tells the story of the institute dating back to 1839. Lee Chapel and Museum houses the final resting place of Robert E. Lee, president of the college following the Civil War. Visit Virginia.org for more information. STS