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Ten Places to Delve into Virginia's Passionate Beginnings

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Ten Places to Delve into Virginia's Passionate Beginnings

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia is an American history icon, with over four centuries of history pre-dating the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown.  Add on more Civil War battles than any other state, world historic sites such as Monticello and America’s largest history museum in Colonial Williamsburg, and you have the dream destination for history addicts everywhere.  Here are ten trip ideas to delve deep into Virginia’s passionate beginnings.

Pre-1607 – Virginia’s eight Indian tribes are eager to share their history and culture with visitors along the Virginia Indian Heritage Trail, which links historical sites with annual pow wows and reservations that tell the true story of Virginia Indians – before Jamestown and beyond.

Civil War Central – Virginia Civil War Trails connects approximately 400 sites on marked trails that lead travelers through Virginia’s countryside to legendary sites such as Appomattox Courthouse, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Fort Monroe in Hampton, the largest stone fort ever built in the United States.

Presidential Homes – Be inspired at the homesteads of our nation’s founding fathers at Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier and Ash Lawn-Highland.  Visit the birthplaces and homes of Washington and Jefferson as well as Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Taylor, Harrison and Woodrow Wilson.

Civil Rights Education – Travel through Southside Virginia and see 41 sites where the fight for equal education took root, from R.R. Moton School in Farmville to Mizpah Church in South Boston along Virginia’s Civil Right in Education Heritage Trail.

Maritime History – Virginia showcases the nation’s maritime might at bases throughout Hampton Roads.  Explore the astounding maritime past at The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News and the Battleship Wisconsin, berthed at Nauticus on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk.

America’s Historic Triangle – Witness archeological finds at Jamestown, charge with reenactors at the Revolutionary War victory in Yorktown and engage with shopkeepers, townsfolk, and marching militia in Colonial Williamsburg, America’s largest living history museum.

History Gone Wild – Trace the westward exploration of Daniel Boone and frontier settlers at the Museum of Frontier Culture in Staunton, the Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia and nearly 100 fascinating sites along The Wilderness Road:  Virginia’s Heritage Migration Route.

Natural History Marvels – Watch scientists at the Virginia Natural History Museum in Martinsville prepare fossils from whales, dinosaurs and other vertebrate from the museum’s collection of 700 dinosaur bones – all in the shadows of prehistoric skeletons dating back 140 million years ago.

Military Giants – Visit Virginia’s Giants of military history – Arlington, Bedford, Quantico, Newport News and Virginia Military Institute in Lexington are just a sampling of the state’s rich military historical sites.

Luray Caverns – Witness the beautiful formations carved by millions of years of water flow at Luray Caverns, the largest and most popular in Eastern America and home of the world’s only Stalacpipe Organ.

Ready to experience Virginia’s passionate beginnings?  Go to Portraits of Passion on www.Virginia.org for more historic destinations in Virginia and watch Mitch Bowman of Virginia Civil War Trails at the American Civil War Center in Richmond.  Or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free Live Passionately - Virginia is for Lovers Travel guide.

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