Original subtitles

IT‘S KNOWN AS THE MOTHER \h\h\h\h\hOF ALL STATES,

AND WITH GOOD REASON--

\hTHE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA IS THE HISTORY OF AMERICA.

VIRGINIA WAS HOME \hTO MANY LEADERS

OF A FLEDGLING YOUNG NATION--

AND THE STRUCTURES THEY BUILT

STAND TRIBUTE TO THEIR INGENUITY AND THEIR VISION.

\hITS LUSH FIELDS HAVE BEEN THE SITE OF BLOODY BATTLES,

AS WELL AS MOMENTS OF GREAT TRIUMPH.

IT‘S THE SITE OF WHAT MAY BE

\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOST AMBITIOUS HISTORY LESSON IN AMERICA...

AS WELL AS A SCHOOL

\hTHAT CHARTED THE PATH FOR AMERICAN EDUCATION.

FROM ANCIENT NATURAL WONDERS \h\h\hTO MODERN CURIOSITIES,

\hAERIAL VIRGINIA TRAVELS ACROSS A DIVERSE AND RUGGED LANDSCAPE.

IT IS THE REALM OF PIRATES, \h\h\hTHE SOURCE OF LEGENDS,

\hAND THE LAUNCHING PAD FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

THE JAMES RIVER.

\h\h\hIT‘S A VITAL WATERWAY THAT HANDLES MORE THAN 25,000 BARGES

FULL OF GRAVEL AND GRAIN \h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY YEAR.

\h\hAND IT‘S THE ARTERY THAT FIRST LED EUROPEAN SETTLERS

TO THE NEW AMERICAN CONTINENT.

LINED WITH MASSIVE ESTATES AND POCKETS OF WILDERNESS,

THE JAMES CUTS A WIDE SWATH \h\h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE STATE.

\h\h\hBUT IT‘S HERE AT JAMESTOWN ISLAND

WHERE THE STORY OF VIRGINIA-- \h\h\h\hAND A NATION--BEGINS.

SETTLERS ARRIVED HERE IN 1607.

AND LOW WALLS MARK THE OUTLINES

OF THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH \hSETTLEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA.

THE COMMUNITY WAS ANCHORED \h\h\h\h\hBY AN OLD FORT,

WHICH MOST PEOPLE BELIEVED

\h\h\hHAD BEEN WASHED INTO THE JAMES RIVER.

BUT IN 1994, ARCHAEOLOGISTS \h\h\h\h\h\hBEGAN TO UNCOVER

REMNANTS OF THE FORT,

INCLUDING MORE THAN \h150,000 ARTIFACTS.

\h\hALL OF THIS LAND WAS ONCE CONTROLLED

\h\h\h\h\hBY A COLLECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

THEY WERE OFTEN AT WAR \h\hWITH THE SETTLERS

LED BY CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.

\h\h\h\hIN DECEMBER 1607, SMITH AND SOME OF HIS MEN

WERE CAPTURED BY THE ALGONQUINS.

\h\h\h\hACCORDING TO SMITH, THE TRIBE‘S CHIEF, POWHATAN,

WAS ON THE VERGE OF KILLING HIM

UNTIL THE CHIEF‘S DAUGHTER, \h\hPOCAHONTAS, INTERVENED--

AND SAVED HIS LIFE.

MODERN HISTORIANS BELIEVE THIS SCENARIO IS UNLIKELY.

THEY ARGUE THAT SMITH‘S ACCOUNT

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS PROBABLY BASED ON A CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDING.

THE EARLY HISTORY OF THIS AREA \h\h\h\h\hIS FURTHER EXPLORED

\h\h\h\hAT THE NEARBY JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT.

\h\hTHE SHIPS WE SEE IN THE HARBOR BELOW

ARE RECREATIONS OF THE VESSELS

THAT EARLY SETTLERS WOULD HAVE \h\h\hTAKEN OVER FROM ENGLAND.

THE BIGGEST OF THESE, \hTHE SUSAN CONSTANT,

PROBABLY CARRIED 105 PASSENGERS AND 40 CREW MEMBERS

\h\h\h\h\hON THE ARDUOUS FOUR-MONTH-LONG JOURNEY.

THE JAMES FORT AREA

\h\h\h\hFEATURES REPLICAS OF THATCHED-ROOF BUILDINGS

INCLUDING A CHURCH, \h\h\hA GUARDHOUSE,

AND THE GOVERNOR‘S HOUSE.

TO THE SOUTHEAST IS NORFOLK,

THE WORLD‘S LARGEST \h\hNATURAL HARBOR,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND A CITY WITH A PROUD MILITARY TRADITION.

MANY WORLD WAR II VETERANS \h\h\h\h\h\hSERVED HERE--

AND IT‘S STILL A STOP FOR MANY \hSEAFARING MILITARY OFFICERS.

ON THE NORTHERN EDGE \h\h\h\hOF THE CITY,

\h\h\hNORFOLK HOUSES THE LARGEST NAVAL INSTALLATION IN THE WORLD.

THE SEVEN MILES OF WHARF \h\h\h\h\hAND PIER SPACE

ARE HOME TO 75 SHIPS.

\h\h\h\h\hANOTHER 3,000 SHIPS PASS THROUGH HERE EVERY YEAR.

\h\hONE SHIP THAT‘S NOT GOING ANYWHERE IS THE USS WISCONSIN,

WHICH HAS BEEN DECOMMISSIONED \h\hAND TURNED INTO A MUSEUM.

ONE OF THE LARGEST BATTLESHIPS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD,

IT‘S ALSO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST.

COMMISSIONED IN APRIL 1944,

\h\h\hTHE WISCONSIN WAS PART OF A FLEET

\h\hTHAT DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF JAPANESE SHIPS AND PLANES

IN THE PHILIPPINES.

\hBUT AFTER SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS,

A FURIOUS TYPHOON SWEPT THROUGH,

SINKING THREE SUPPORTING \h\h\h\h\h\hDESTROYERS.

THE WISCONSIN WAS UNHARMED.

THE VESSEL‘S DURABILITY WOULD BE TESTED AGAIN AND AGAIN,

AS IT LATER HELD OFF \h\h\h\hENEMY FORCES

IN THE KOREAN WAR AND THE GULF WAR.

\h\h\h\hTHE OLD BATTLESHIP WAS FINALLY DECOMMISSIONED

AFTER 47 YEARS OF SERVICE \h\h\h\hIN SEPTEMBER 1991.

NORFOLK‘S MacARTHUR SQUARE

IS NAMED IN HONOR OF \hDOUGLAS MacARTHUR,

THE LARGER THAN LIFE \hFIVE-STAR GENERAL.

\h\h\h\hTHE CENTERPIECE IS THE MacARTHUR MUSEUM,

FORMERLY THE NORFOLK COURTHOUSE.

WHEN IT ORIGINALLY OPENED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1850,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS CUPOLA WAS THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE CITY--

AND VISITORS USED TO \h\h\hCLIMB INTO IT

TO GET A BIRD‘S EYE VIEW \h\h\h\h\hOF THE HARBOR.

JUST NORTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY LIES HAMPTON ROADS.

IT‘S THE SITE OF THE OLDEST

CONTINUALLY ENGLISH-SPEAKING \h\hSETTLEMENT IN AMERICA--

\h\h\h\h\hAND AN AERONAUTICS AND COMMERCIAL FISHING HUB.

BUT IT ORIGINALLY MADE ITS NAME AS A HAVEN FOR PIRATES.

\h\h\h\h\hEVERY SUMMER, A FESTIVAL IS HELD HERE

\h\h\h\hIN HONOR OF ONE OF THE LEGENDARY FIGURES

WHO TERRORIZED THE HIGH SEAS-- \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBLACKBEARD.

\h\h\hWHEN BLACKBEARD WAS FINALLY CAPTURED,

\hHIS SEVERED HEAD WAS PUT ON A PIKE

\h\hAT THE ENTRANCE TO THE HAMPTON RIVER

TO DETER OTHERS FROM ENTERING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA LIFE OF CRIME.

HAMPTON HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE

\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD OF MODERN AIRCRAFT--

AND IN THE SPACE PROGRAM.

\h\h\hAIR WARFARE AS WE KNOW IT BEGAN AT LANGLEY FIELD IN 1921.

THIS IS WHERE BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM MITCHELL

LED THE FIRST TRIALS \h\h\h\hON AIRPLANES

DESIGNED TO ATTACK BATTLESHIPS--

\h\h\h\h\h\hAN EXPERIMENT THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD

\hTO THE CREATION OF THE AIR FORCE.

AROUND THE SAME TIME,

SOME OF THE EARLIEST EXPERIMENTS IN AERONAUTICS

WERE BEING DONE HERE.

\h\hAND WHEN NASA DECIDED TO PUT A MAN ON THE MOON,

\h\hTHEY BROUGHT THE FIRST ASTRONAUTS HERE TO TRAIN.

NEAR HAMPTON IS THE HOME

\hOF THE GIBRALTAR OF THE CHESAPEAKE,

BETTER KNOWN AS FORT MONROE.

NAMED FOR THE FIFTH PRESIDENT,

IT‘S THE LARGEST STONE FORT \h\hEVER BUILT IN THE U.S.--

AND THE MOAT THAT SURROUNDS IT

MAKES IT A REMNANT \h\hOF A LOST ERA.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THE FORT \h\hREMAINED IN UNION HANDS--

\hAND LATER, IT WAS THE HOME OF A VERY FAMOUS PRISONER--

CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT \h\h\hJEFFERSON DAVIS,

WHO WAS CAPTURED IN GEORGIA \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN MAY 1865

AND IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THIS STONE FORTRESS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR MONTHS, DAVIS WAS KEPT IN CHAINS,

CUT OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD, AND DENIED BAIL OR A TRIAL.

\h\hHE WAS FINALLY RELEASED ON PAROLE AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS,

\h\hAND LATER RECEIVED AMNESTY FROM PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON.

LONG BEFORE IT WAS TORN APART \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY CIVIL WAR,

AMERICA FOUGHT FOR ITS FREEDOM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM ENGLAND.

AND HERE IN YORKTOWN,

TROOPS FOUGHT THE LAST \h\hMAJOR LAND BATTLE

OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON \h\h\h\h\h\hAND HIS ARMY--

ASSISTED BY FRENCH SOLDIERS--

WON A DECISIVE BATTLE HERE,

LEADING TO A SURRENDER \h\hOF BRITISH FORCES.

THERE‘S ONLY ONE RESORT ISLAND \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN VIRGINIA,

AND IT SITS ALONG VIRGINIA‘S \h\h\h\h\h\h\hEASTERN SHORE.

CHINCOTEAGUE MEANS "BEAUTIFUL \h\h\hLAND ACROSS THE WATER,"

AND THAT‘S JUST WHAT THIS IS.

HOME TO JUST 4,000 PEOPLE,

IT HOSTS A MILLION VISITORS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA YEAR.

CHINCOTEAGUE IS KNOWN FOR ITS OYSTERS, CLAMS, AND FISHING--

BUT IT‘S SURELY MOST FAMOUS \h\h\hFOR ITS FERAL HORSES.

CHINCOTEAGUE HORSES ARE NOTABLE FOR THEIR UNUSUALLY SMALL SIZE--

FULL-GROWN ONES ARE NO BIGGER \h\h\h\hTHAN THE AVERAGE PONY

\h\hAND SEEM TO BE THE PERFECT RESTING PLACE FOR THESE BIRDS.

EVERY YEAR, ALL OF THE HORSES \h\h\h\h\h\hARE TAKEN BY WATER

TO THE NEARBY ISLAND \h\h\hOF ASSATEAGUE,

WHERE THEY ARE AUCTIONED OFF

\h\h\hTO KEEP THE HERD FROM GETTING TOO BIG.

ASSATEAGUE IS A BARRIER ISLAND

THAT‘S BEEN DESIGNATED \hA NATIONAL SEASHORE.

THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT ITS 37 MILES OF BEACH,

AS WELL AS THE MANY DIFFERENT \h\h\hANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE,

INCLUDING 320 SPECIES OF BIRDS.

MORE THAN HALF OF THE NATIONAL \h\h\hSEASHORE‘S 48,000 ACRES

IS NEAR THE COAST...

\hA LANDSCAPE THAT‘S CONSTANTLY CHANGING DUE TO WIND AND WATER.

TO THE SOUTH IS VIRGINIA BEACH,

THE MOST WELL-POPULATED CITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE STATE

\h\h\hAND A PREMIERE TOURIST DESTINATION

WITH 28 MILES OF SURF, SAND \h\h\h\h\h\hAND GOOD TIMES.

IT‘S HARD TO IMAGINE TODAY,

BUT FOR MANY YEARS THIS WAS \h\h\hA QUIET SEASIDE TOWN.

ITS LONE HOTEL BURNED DOWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1907--

\h\h\h\h\hAND IT WAS 20 YEARS BEFORE ANOTHER TOOK ITS PLACE.

IN ITS HEYDAY, THE CAVALIER WAS AS ELEGANT AS ITS NAME.

WHEN IT OPENED IN 1927,

THE $2-MILLION STRUCTURE FEATURED EVERY AMENITY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE OF THOSE PERKS WAS RUNNING WATER IN EACH ROOM,

INCLUDING A SEPARATE TAP \h\h\h\hFOR SALT WATER,

WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE \h\h\hHEALING PROPERTIES.

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, \h\h\h\hJUDY GARLAND

\hAND SEVERAL PRESIDENTS HAVE GRACED ITS HALLS--

\h\h\h\h\hAS DID ADOLPH COORS, THE FOUNDER OF COORS BREWERY.

IN 1929, THE 82-YEAR-OLD \h\h\hFELL TO HIS DEATH

FROM A SIXTH STORY WINDOW.

NO ONE KNOWS IF IT WAS \hAN ACCIDENT OR NOT--

BUT LEGEND HAS IT

THAT COORS‘ GHOST STILL HAUNTS \h\h\hTHE GRAND OLD CAVALIER.

OVER THE YEARS,

\h\h\h\hAS VIRGINIA BEACH HAS BECOME MORE POPULATED,

A HUGE AMOUNT OF WASTE \h\h\h\hHAS PILED UP--

\h\h\hAND THE RESULT IS MOUNT TRASHMORE.

\hTHE 68-FOOT-TALL PEAK IS MADE OF PURE GARBAGE,

\h\hALL OF IT COVERED WITH GRASS AND CONVERTED INTO A CITY PARK.

\hON APRIL FOOL‘S DAY IN 1992, SOME LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITIES

\h\h\h\h\hMADE MOUNT TRASHMORE THE BUTT OF A TOO-CLEVER JOKE.

\h\h\h\hTHEY ANNOUNCED THAT THE GARBAGE HEAP

\h\hWAS ABOUT TO ERUPT FROM PENT-UP METHANE.

THE HUMOR WAS LOST ON SOME LISTENERS,

WHO FLOODED 911 WITH CALLS ABOUT WHETHER TO EVACUATE.

\hCAPE HENRY IS HOME TO THIS LIGHTHOUSE,

THE OFFICIAL SYMBOL \hOF VIRGINIA BEACH.

\h\h\hIT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON \h\h\h\hWAS PRESIDENT,

AND BUILT WITH STONE FROM THE SAME QUARRY

\h\hUSED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CAPITOL, AND MOUNT VERNON.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE FISH OIL USED TO KEEP THE LIGHT GOING HERE

WAS ALWAYS A POTENTIAL \h\h\h\h\hFIRE HAZARD.

THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS \h\h\h\h\hREPLACED IN 1881

\h\hBY THIS SECOND LIGHTHOUSE JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY.

IT‘S NEARLY TWICE AS HIGH \h\h\h\h\hAS THE ORIGINAL,

AND SHINES A LIGHT \h\hTHAT‘S VISIBLE

UP TO 19 MILES FROM SHORE.

\h\hRIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE LIGHTHOUSES,

BUT EASY TO MISS,

IS A REPLICA OF A CRUCIFIX

ERECTED BY A SHIP FULL OF ENGLISHMEN IN 1607.

THEY BUILT IT TO THANK GOD

FOR THEIR SAFE JOURNEY \h\hTO THE NEW WORLD.

BUT THEY WERE SOON SCARED OFF BY A GROUP OF NATIVE AMERICANS

AND FLED UPRIVER TO JAMESTOWN, \h\h\h\h\hWHERE THEY SETTLED.

OF COURSE, THOSE EARLY SETTLERS

WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZED \h\h\hAND DUMBFOUNDED

\h\h\hTO SEE A BRIDGE STRETCHING RIGHT ACROSS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL

IS BOTH A TOURIST ATTRACTION \hAND A TRAVEL CONVENIENCE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCONNECTING THE VIRGINIAN MAINLAND,

\h\hNEAR VIRGINIA BEACH, WITH THE EASTERN SHORE.

WHEN IT OPENED IN APRIL 1964,

\h\h\hTHIS 17 1/2-MILE BRIDGE-TUNNEL COMPLEX

WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE SEVEN ENGINEERING WONDERS

OF THE MODERN WORLD.

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG IS PERHAPS

THE MOST AMBITIOUS LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IN THE U.S.

THE FORMER CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA,

\h\h\h\hIT HOUSES 88 STRUCTURES FROM THE 1700s AND EARLY 1800s--

AND MORE THAN 300 ACRES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF PLANTS

THAT WOULD HAVE THRIVED HERE \h\h\h\hIN THE COLONIAL ERA.

VIRGINIA‘S LARGEST HISTORICAL \h\h\h\h\hPRESERVATION PROJECT

\h\hWAS ACTUALLY FUNDED BY A FAMOUS NEW YORKER--

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.

ROCKEFELLER WAS BROUGHT \h\h\h\hINTO THE PROJECT

BY LOCAL PASTOR W.A.R. GOODWIN \h\h\hOF BRUTON PARISH CHURCH.

\hWHEN THEY BEGAN BUYING PROPERTIES,

\hROCKEFELLER KEPT THE PROJECT SECRET

\hSO THAT RESIDENTS SELLING THEIR HOMES

WOULDN‘T DRIVE UP PRICES.

FINALLY, ROCKEFELLER REVEALED HIS INTENT

\hTO RESTORE THE TOWN TO ITS COLONIAL GLORY.

SOME RESIDENTS WERE SUSPICIOUS,

BUT MOST WERE INTRIGUED \h\h\h\h\h\hBY THE IDEA.

THE BUILDINGS ARE FULL \h\h\hOF INTERPRETERS

WHO DRESS, TALK AND ACT

\hAS THOUGH THEY‘RE LIVING IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

SOME ARE ACTORS OR HISTORIANS,

\h\hAND OTHERS JUST HAVE GREAT ENTHUSIASM FOR AMERICA‘S PAST.

AS A RESULT, WHAT MIGHT HAVE \h\hBEEN A COLONIAL FOOTNOTE

IS A TOURIST MECCA.

\h\hA MILLION VISITORS COME HERE EVERY YEAR.

NOT ALL THE BUILDINGS HERE \h\h\h\h\hARE ORIGINALS--

BUT IT CAN BE HARD TO TELL WHICH ARE AUTHENTIC AND WHICH AREN‘T.

\hTHE MAGNIFICENT GOVERNOR‘S PALACE BURNED DOWN IN 1781.

THIS IS A RECONSTRUCTION

BASED ON FLOOR PLAN DRAWN \h\h\hBY THOMAS JEFFERSON.

AND A 1770 INVENTORY LISTED MANY OF THE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS.

JUST NORTH OF WILLIAMSBURG, \h\hIN CHARLES CITY COUNTY,

THE TEN-ACRE BERKELEY PLANTATION IS LINKED TO MANY FIRSTS.

IT‘S THE BIRTHPLACE OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON,

WHO DIED JUST ONE MONTH AFTER HIS INAUGURATION--

THE FIRST PRESIDENT \hTO DIE IN OFFICE.

AND IN JULY 1862,

\h\h\hWHEN UNION TROOPS OCCUPIED THE PLANTATION,

IT WAS THE FIRST SPOT

\hWHERE A NEW LIGHTS-OUT BUGLE CALL WAS PLAYED--

A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL TUNE \h\h\h\h\hKNOWN AS "TAPS."

ACCORDING TO LEGEND,

\h\h\h\h"TAPS" WAS PLAYED OVER THE BURIAL OF A UNION SOLDIER.

["TAPS" PLAYING]

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS SITE IS PROBABLY MOST FAMOUS

\hFOR WHAT SOME CONSIDER THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.

ON DECEMBER 4, 1619,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE THE PILGRIMS SET SAIL,

\h\hCAPTAIN JOHN WOODLIEF AND A GROUP OF ENGLISHMEN

LANDED ON THE JAMES RIVER.

HE SAID THAT THIS DAY "SHALL BE YEARLY AND PERPETUALLY KEPT HOLY

AS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING \h\h\hTO ALMIGHTY GOD."

BUT IT WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN

WHO MADE THANKSGIVING \hAN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY,

AND HE WAS HONORING THE PILGRIMS‘ FEAST

IN MASSACHUSETTS, \h\hNOT JAMESTOWN.

ANOTHER HISTORIC HOME ALONG THE JAMES RIVER

IS THE SHIRLEY PLANTATION.

\h\h\h\h\h\hALTHOUGH IT‘S NOW A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK,

THE MAIN HOUSE IS STILL OWNED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND LIVED IN

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY DESCENDANTS OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER, EDWARD HILL.

THIS IS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE OLDEST FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES

IN NORTH AMERICA,

GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1638.

\h\h\hTHAT‘S THE YEAR HILL ESTABLISHED A TOBACCO FARM

ON THIS 800-ACRE PROPERTY.

THE CURRENT HOUSE WAS BUILT \h\h\h\h\h\hA CENTURY LATER,

FOR HIS GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER.

FUTURE CONFEDERATE GENERAL \h\h\h\h\h\hROBERT E. LEE

\h\h\hSPENT MUCH OF HIS CHILDHOOD HERE.

HIS MOTHER, ANN HILL CARTER,

WAS BORN, RAISED AND MARRIED \h\h\hAT SHIRLEY PLANTATION.

VIRGINIA‘S STATE CAPITOL, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRICHMOND,

HAS AN ECLECTIC MIX \hOF NEIGHBORHOODS--

\h\hFROM JACKSON WARD, KNOWN AS THE HARLEM OF THE SOUTH,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CHURCH HILL, A 19th-CENTURY NEIGHBORHOOD

THAT OVERLOOKS DOWNTOWN.

THE HISTORY OF RICHMOND \h\h\h\hIS CLOSELY TIED

TO ITS CONFEDERATE PAST.

AFTER VIRGINIA SECEDED \h\h\hFROM THE UNION,

RICHMOND IMMEDIATELY BECAME THE NEW CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY--

\h\hAND ITS HEADQUARTERS WAS THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.

\hWHEN THOMAS JEFFERSON DESIGNED THE STRUCTURE 70 YEARS EARLIER,

\h\h\h\hHE MODELED IT AFTER A ROMAN TEMPLE.

\h\h\hNEARBY STANDS A HISTORIC BUILDING

THAT‘S NEARLY HIDDEN BY A GROUP OF TOWERING MODERN STRUCTURES.

IT‘S THE WHITE HOUSE OF THE CONFEDERACY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AUGUST 1861, WHEN JEFFERSON DAVIS MOVED IN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hHE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS UNDER CLOSE WATCH--

BY ONE OF HIS OWN SLAVES.

MARY BOWSER WAS A UNION SPY-- \hWITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY.

BUT UNDER SUSPICION,

MARY ESCAPED FROM RICHMOND \h\h\h\hIN JANUARY 1865--

JUST MONTHS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF UNION TROOPS,

WHEN DAVIS HIMSELF FLED.

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF RICHMOND, IN NEIGHBORING HENRICO COUNTY,

IS THE LARGEST SPORTS VENUE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN VIRGINIA--

\h\h\h\h\hTHE RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hALTHOUGH THERE‘S LITTLE ACTIVITY ON OFF DAYS,

\h\h\hON RACE DAYS THIS STADIUM REGULARLY PACKS SELL-OUT CROWDS

OF 110,000 SPECTATORS.

IT‘S GONE BY MANY NAMES \h\h\h\hOVER THE YEARS,

BUT ONE THING HAS REMAINED \h\h\h\h\h\hCONSTANT HERE,

AND THAT‘S THE PRESENCE \h\hOF THE PETTY FAMILY.

\h\hTHREE GENERATIONS OF THE PETTY FAMILY--

LEE, RICHARD, AND KYLE--

HAVE ROARED TO VICTORY HERE, SOLIDIFYING THEIR REPUTATION

AS ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF NASCAR.

RICHMOND BOASTS THE ONLY STREET IN THE U.S.

THAT‘S A NATIONAL HISTORIC \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLANDMARK.

MONUMENT AVENUE RUNS \hTHROUGH THE HEART

OF THE CITY‘S FAN DISTRICT.

THE TREE-LINED PROMENADE

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS NOTED FOR ITS EXTRAORDINARY ARCHITECTURE--

BUT MAY BE MOST FAMOUS \h\h\hFOR ITS STATUES,

INCLUDING ROBERT E. LEE...

AND OF COURSE JEFFERSON DAVIS.

IN 1996, THE CITY \hADDED THE STATUE

OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF REBEL--

NATIVE SON ARTHUR ASHE.

IN THE 1950s,

WHEN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASHE \hWAS LEARNING TO PLAY TENNIS

IN THIS SEGREGATED CITY,

\h\hHE WAS TURNED AWAY FROM THE WHITE COURTS

IN NEARBY BYRD PARK.

FINALLY, ASHE MOVED \h\h\hTO ST. LOUIS,

WHERE HE HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY ON INTEGRATED COURTS

\h\h\h\h\hAND BE TRAINED BY A PROFESSIONAL COACH.

HE WOULD BECOME THE FIRST \hAFRICAN-AMERICAN WINNER

OF WIMBLEDON.

ALTHOUGH VIRGINIA WAS ONE OF THE LAST STATES TO LEAVE THE UNION,

MORE THAN HALF OF THE BATTLES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE CIVIL WAR

\h\h\hWERE FOUGHT HERE-- INCLUDING AT PETERSBURG.

\h\h\hAFTER A FAILED ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE RICHMOND IN 1864,

\h\h\hGENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT SET HIS SIGHTS ON PETERSBURG.

THE CITY HAD FOUR RAIL LINES

\h\h\h\hCRITICAL FOR BRINGING FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO RICHMOND.

\h\h\h\hIF HE COULD SHUT DOWN THE RAIL LINES AND ROADS HERE,

GRANT KNEW HE COULD OVERTAKE \hTHE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL--

\h\hAND SOON THE LONGEST SIEGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAD BEGUN.

\hOVER THE COURSE OF 292 DAYS, UNION AND CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS

\hEXCHANGED GUNFIRE FROM THEIR TRENCHES.

DESPERATE TO SNAP THE STALEMATE,

GRANT‘S MEN TUNNELED \hBEHIND ENEMY LINES

AND PACKED FOUR TONS \h\h\h\hOF GUNPOWDER

\h\h\h\hBENEATH ONE OF THE CONFEDERATE CAMPS.

\h\h\hTHE EXPLOSION BLASTED THIS CRATER IN THE LANDSCAPE

\h\h\h\h\hAND CARVED A GAP IN THE CONFEDERATE‘S LINE.

BUT AS UNION TROOPS SURGED INTO THE CRATER TO ATTACK ON FOOT,

LEE‘S MEN REGROUPED AND LAUNCHED A COUNTER ASSAULT.

\h\hFIGHTING CONTINUED HERE AT PETERSBURG FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

GRANT EVENTUALLY PREVAILED, \h\hBUT PAID A HEAVY PRICE.

\hDURING THE TEN-MONTH BATTLE AT LEAST 42,000 UNION SOLDIERS

WERE KILLED, WOUNDED \h\h\h\hOR CAPTURED.

FOR ALL THE EMPHASIS ON HISTORY,

VIRGINIANS STILL KNOW \h\hHOW TO HAVE FUN--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hESPECIALLY AT THE KING‘S DOMINION AMUSEMENT PARK,

WHICH HAS BEEN THRILLING KIDS \h\h\hOF ALL AGES SINCE 1975.

SOME OF THE ATTRACTIONS FROM ITS EARLY DAYS STILL REMAIN,

LIKE A ONE-THIRD SCALE VERSION \h\h\h\h\hOF THE EIFFEL TOWER.

AND THE CAROUSEL.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE THEME PARK HAS REALLY MADE ITS NAME

WITH ADRENALINE-PUMPING RIDES \h\h\h\h\hLIKE THE DOMINATOR.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE WINDING 4,000-FOOT STEEL TRACK

ANCHORS THE LONGEST FLOORLESS \hROLLER COASTER IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\hAND THE 272-FOOT DESCENT ON THE PARK‘S DROP TOWER RIDE

\hIS THE STEEPEST IN NORTH AMERICA.

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

\h\hTHOSE WHO PREFER TO FIND THEIR THRILLS ON THE GREENS

MAY BE DRAWN TO THE NEARBY \h\h\h\hKINLOCH GOLF CLUB.

SINCE ITS OPENING IN 2001, \h\h\h\hTHIS PAR-72 COURSE

\h\h\h\hHAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE "AUGUSTA NATIONAL OF VIRGINIA."

\h\h\hAND IT‘S BEEN NAMED ONE OF AMERICA‘S HUNDRED BEST COURSES.

KINLOCH WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

\h\h\hWHO FIRST WANTED TO PUT A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY HERE.

WHEN HE DECIDED TO CREATE

\h\h\hA WORLD-CLASS GOLF COURSE INSTEAD,

HE ENLISTED A LOCAL SPORTS AGENT

TO HELP MAKE HIS VISION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA REALITY.

\h\h\hUNLIKE MANY COURSES, MOST OF THE FEATURES HERE

WERE MADE BY MOTHER NATURE, \h\hNOT THE COURSE DESIGNER.

MANY OF THE ORIGINAL TREES \h\h\hWERE ALSO PRESERVED

DURING THE CLEARING OF THE LAND,

\h\hGIVING THIS THE FEEL OF A MUCH OLDER COURSE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE NORTHWEST IS CHARLOTTESVILLE, A COLLEGE TOWN.

BUT IT‘S ALSO PART OF THE LIVING LEGACY OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.

JEFFERSON LIVED HERE, \h\h\h\hAT MONTICELLO.

TO HIM, IT WAS MORE \hTHAN JUST A HOME--

\h\h\hAND ACCORDING TO SOME HISTORIANS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT SERVES AS A KIND OF ARCHITECTURAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

\h\hTHE NAME MONTICELLO MEANS "LITTLE MOUNTAIN" IN ITALIAN--

A FITTING DESCRIPTION \h\h\hOF THE LOCATION

WHERE THE SELF-TAUGHT ARCHITECT CHOSE TO BUILD HIS HOME.

CONSTRUCTION ON THE 43-ROOM \h\h\hMANSION BEGAN IN 1770,

\h\hSHORTLY AFTER JEFFERSON WAS FIRST ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WENT THROUGH MANY DESIGNS AND REDESIGNS,

AND WASN‘T FINISHED UNTIL 1809, THE LAST YEAR OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

JEFFERSON WAS INFLUENCED \h\h\h\h\hBY THE DESIGNS

OF THE LATE ITALIAN ARCHITECT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPALLADIO.

\h\hAND HIS TRAVELS TO FRANCE INSPIRED HIM TO ADD SKYLIGHTS

AND THE FAMOUS DOME ROOM.

JEFFERSON, WHO VALUED \h\h\h\h\hHIS PRIVACY,

\h\h\hLEFT THE HOUSE SURROUNDED BY TREES.

HE DID CLEAR ENOUGH SPACE \h\h\hFOR SEVERAL GARDENS,

WHERE THE AVID HORTICULTURIST

GREW MORE THAN 250 KINDS OF VEGETABLES AND HERBS.

\h\h\h\hJEFFERSON ONCE SAID: "I AM AS HAPPY NOWHERE ELSE

AND IN NO OTHER SOCIETY,

\h\h\h\hAND ALL MY WISHES END, WHERE I HOPE MY DAYS WILL END,

AT MONTICELLO."

HIS DAYS DID END HERE \h\h\hON JULY 4, 1826,

\h\h\h\h\h\hEXACTLY 50 YEARS AFTER AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

JEFFERSON LEFT INSTRUCTIONS

\hTHAT HIS GRAVESTONE SHOULD BE AN OBELISK,

AND HE ALSO WROTE \hHIS OWN EPITAPH:

\h"HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON,

AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE,

OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA \h\hFOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,

AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF VIRGINIA."

JEFFERSON--

\hWHO DIDN‘T EVEN MENTION BEING THE COUNTRY‘S THIRD PRESIDENT--

CLEARLY DIDN‘T WANT HIS WORK \h\hAT UVA TO BE FORGOTTEN.

JEFFERSON HAD HIS HAND

\h\h\h\h\hIN EVERY ELEMENT OF THE SCHOOL‘S CREATION.

\hHE DESIGNED THE BUILDINGS, CHOSE BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARY,

AND HELPED SHAPE THE CURRICULUM.

THE RETIRED STATESMAN

EVEN HOSTED A WEEKLY DINNER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR STUDENTS,

INCLUDING A YOUNG WRITER \hNAMED EDGAR ALLAN POE.

THE AUTHOR OF "THE RAVEN" AND "THE TELL-TALE HEART"

NEVER EARNED HIS DEGREE HERE.

\h\h\h\hAFTER RUNNING UP TOO MANY GAMBLING DEBTS,

HE HAD TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY.

WHEN THE UNIVERSITY \h\hOPENED IN 1825,

\h\hIT SERVED A CLASS OF JUST 123 STUDENTS.

\hTODAY, IT REGULARLY HAS AN INCOMING CLASS

\h\h\hOF ABOUT 3,000 FIRST YEAR STUDENTS.

\h\hCONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP PUBLIC COLLEGES IN THE NATION,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUVA IS STILL KNOWN AS "MR. JEFFERSON‘S UNIVERSITY."

\h\hTHE CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA IS ALSO HOME TO SEVERAL WINERIES--

AND AGAIN, THEY TRACE THEIR HERITAGE BACK TO JEFFERSON,

KNOWN BY MANY AS THE FATHER \h\h\h\h\hOF AMERICAN WINE.

\h\h\h\h\hHE PLANTED DOZENS OF GRAPE VARIETIES HIMSELF.

AND WHEN A SMALL GROUP \hOF ITALIAN VINTNERS

ARRIVED IN VIRGINIA,

HE DONATED 200 ACRES OF LAND \h\hFOR THEM TO DO THE SAME.

AFTER PROHIBITION,

VIRGINIA‘S WINE PRODUCTION \h\hVIRTUALLY DISAPPEARED.

BUT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS,

\hTHE NUMBER OF WINERIES HAS MULTIPLIED FROM SIX

TO MORE THAN A HUNDRED.

NORTHEAST OF CHARLOTTESVILLE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS MONTPELIER,

\hTHE PLANTATION HOME OF FORMER JEFFERSON PROTEGE JAMES MADISON.

AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, THE FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

\hFOUND THAT HIS LAND HAD FALLEN IN VALUE--

AND HE WAS NEARLY BROKE.

\h\h\hTHE PRIMARY AUTHOR OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

HELD BACK FROM PUBLISHING \h\h\hSOME OF HIS PAPERS.

HE HOPED THEY WOULD BRING CASH

TO HIS WIFE, DOLLY, \hWHEN HE WAS GONE.

BY THE SUMMER OF 1836,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE LAST SURVIVING FOUNDING FATHER WAS GRAVELY ILL.

\hLEGEND HAS IT THAT A FRIEND URGED MADISON TO TAKE MEDICINE

THAT WOULD PROLONG HIS LIFE \h\h\h\h\h\hUNTIL JULY 4th.

MADISON REFUSED, AND DIED \h\h\h\h\hLESS THAN A WEEK

BEFORE THE 60th ANNIVERSARY \hOF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

SOON, HIS WIFE WAS FORCED \h\h\h\hTO SELL MONTPELIER

TO PAY OFF INCREASING DEBT.

APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE \h\h\h\hNATIONAL PARK,

20 MILES EAST OF LYNCHBURG,

IS WHERE THE LAST CHAPTER \h\h\hIN CIVIL WAR HISTORY

WAS WRITTEN.

\h\h\h\hTHE 1,800-ACRE PARK HAS 27 RESTORED STRUCTURES,

INCLUDING THE McLEAN HOUSE.

IT WAS HERE ON APRIL 9, 1865, \h\hTHAT GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE

HAD A 90-MINUTE MEETING \hWITH ULYSSES S. GRANT.

\h\h\h\hLEE AND GRANT HAMMERED OUT THE TERMS

OF A SURRENDER OF LEE‘S TROOPS,

ENDING THE BLOODIEST WAR \h\hIN AMERICAN HISTORY

WITH A HANDSHAKE.

THERE WAS NEVER AN OFFICIAL \h\h\h\hPEACE TREATY SIGNED

BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.

\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD HAVE MEANT ACKNOWLEDGING THE CONFEDERACY

AS A SEPARATE COUNTRY,

SOMETHING THE UNITED STATES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hREFUSED TO DO.

VIRGINIA‘S SHENANDOAH VALLEY \h\hIS A 200-MILE-LONG SWATH

OF WIDE-OPEN GREEN SPACE.

BORDERED BY THE BLUE RIDGE \h\hMOUNTAINS ON ONE SIDE

AND THE ALLEGHENIES \h\h\hON THE OTHER--

THIS LUSH SPACE IS DOTTED WITH \hHISTORIC VILLAGES AND TOWNS,

AND FILLED WITH MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE

OF NATURAL WONDERS.

\hTHE VALLEY IS NAMED FOR THE MAJESTIC RIVER

THAT RUNS THROUGH IT.

THE NATIVE AMERICANS CALLED IT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SHENANDOAH,

OR "DAUGHTER OF THE STARS,"

BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LIGHT \h\h\h\h\h\hSPARKLES OFF IT.

EXPLORERS FIRST DISCOVERED THE AREA IN THE MID-1600s,

BUT THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLERS DIDN‘T PUT DOWN ROOTS HERE

UNTIL THE EARLY 1700s.

WITH ITS SCENIC COUNTRYSIDE,

\h\h\hLEXINGTON HAS ATTRACTED MANY TRANSPLANTS TO THE AREA--

INCLUDING STONEWALL JACKSON, \h\hWHO SPENT A DECADE HERE.

\hHE NOTED THAT, "LEXINGTON IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE

\h\hTHAT I REMEMBER OF HAVING EVER SEEN

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN CONNECTION WITH THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY."

JACKSON LIVED HERE \h\hWHILE TEACHING

\h\hAT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE NATION‘S OLDEST STATE-SUPPORTED MILITARY COLLEGE

\h\h\hHAS MORE THAN A THOUSAND STUDENTS.

\hTHEY SERVE IN ROTC WHILE ENROLLED HERE,

BUT MAY GO INTO THE ARMED FORCES OR BECOME CIVILIANS

WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

WHEN STONEWALL JACKSON \h\h\h\h\hTAUGHT HERE,

\h\h\h\hHE WAS STILL KNOWN BY HIS GIVEN NAME, THOMAS.

\hBUT HE SOON EARNED HIS FIRST NICKNAME.

\h\hHE WAS SO UNPOPULAR THAT HIS STUDENTS CALLED HIM "TOM FOOL."

\h\h\hJACKSON LEFT TO FIGHT THE CIVIL WAR IN APRIL 1861

AND NEVER RETURNED.

HE WAS BURIED HERE IN MAY 1863

\h\hAFTER THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

\hTHE FORMER TEACHER OF ARTILLERY TACTICS

DIED OF COMPLICATIONS FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND--

AFTER BEING ACCIDENTALLY SHOT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY HIS OWN MEN.

\h\hLEXINGTON IS ALSO THE FINAL BURIAL PLACE

OF GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHIS REMAINS ARE AT WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,

WHERE HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT.

NOT FAR AWAY, ONE OF THE OLDEST

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS \h\h\hIN THE NATION

SOARS ACROSS THE SKY.

NATURAL BRIDGE IS 90 FEET WIDE \h\h\hAND OVER 200 FEET TALL,

AND ESTIMATED TO WEIGH \h\hABOUT 36,000 TONS.

THIS WAS A SACRED SITE FOR NATIVE AMERICANS,

WHO FIRST DUBBED IT "THE BRIDGE OF GOD."

\h\h\hIN THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURY,

EUROPEAN TOURISTS TRAVELING THE COUNTRYSIDE BY CARRIAGE

\h\h\h\hCONSIDERED THIS A FAVORITE DESTINATION.

AND IT WAS OFTEN LISTED

\h\h\h\h\hAS ONE OF THE SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

THOMAS JEFFERSON BOUGHT THE SITE FROM KING GEORGE III OF ENGLAND

TO MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYED \h\h\h\h\h\hIN PUBLIC HANDS.

JEFFERSON FELT THAT IN THIS SPOT

"THE RAPTURE OF THE SPECTATOR \h\hIS REALLY INDESCRIBABLE."

NEAR NATURAL BRIDGE \h\hSITS A CURIOSITY

THAT‘S DEFINITELY MANMADE--

SEEMINGLY FAMILIAR, \h\hAND YET UNIQUE.

THIS REPLICA OF STONEHENGE, \h\h\h\hBUILT BY MARK CLINE,

OPENED ON APRIL FOOL‘S DAY 2004, AND IS KNOWN AS FOAMHENGE.

\hTHE ORIGINAL IN ENGLAND WAS BUILT OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

THIS REPLICA--WITH 16-FOOT-TALL PIECES OF STYROFOAM--

WENT UP IN LITTLE MORE \h\h\h\h\hTHAN A DAY.

THE FIRST VERSION OF IT \h\h\h\hBLEW RIGHT OVER,

\h\h\hSO CLINE ADDED PIPES TO ROOT IT TO THE GROUND--

AND IT‘S BEEN STANDING TALL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVER SINCE.

THE VALLEY IS DOTTED \hWITH SMALL TOWNS,

EACH ONE MORE PICTURESQUE \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN THE LAST.

\hBUT RURAL VIRGINIA DOESN‘T GET MUCH MORE QUAINT THAN MAYBERRY.

MAYBERRY‘S PICTURESQUE \h\h\h\h\h\hMABRY MILL

IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPOTS ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY--

AND ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED SITES IN VIRGINIA.

BORDERING THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IS A SCENIC STRETCH OF ROAD

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT HUGS THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS,

RUNNING FROM FRONT ROYAL \h\h\h\h\hTO WAYNESBORO.

\h\h\hPRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER WAS KNOWN TO FISH IN THE AREA,

AND LEGEND HAS IT THAT HE LIKED THE VIEW SO MUCH

HE WANTED OTHERS TO BE ABLE \h\h\h\hTO SHARE IT--BY CAR.

\hTHE ROAD WAS FINALLY APPROVED BY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE 105-MILE ROAD WAS BUILT BY LOCAL FARMERS,

\hSOME OF WHOM WERE DISPLACED BY PRESERVATION EFFORTS HERE.

\h\h\h\hTHE EVENTUAL COST WAS ABOUT $40,000 A MILE.

BUT THE VIEW--PRICELESS.

\h\h\h\h\hSOUTH AND WEST OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

LIES THE REGION KNOWN \h\h\h\hAS APPALACHIA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS A PLACE WITH A RICH CULTURE ALL ITS OWN,

\h\h\h\h\hAND A LONG TRADITION OF EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE.

FORGED BY WIND AND WATER,

\hCUMBERLAND GAP IS ONE OF THE FEW MAJOR BREAKS

IN THE APPALACHIAN \hMOUNTAIN CHAIN.

THIS 20-MILE-LONG NATIONAL PARK

CONTAINS 20,000 ACRES \h\h\h\hOF WILDERNESS

EXTENDING INTO TENNESSEE \h\h\h\h\hAND KENTUCKY.

ADVENTURERS LIKE DANIEL BOONE

HELPED TO FORGE THE WAY THROUGH THE GAP FOR EARLY PIONEERS.

IT CONTINUED TO BE THE BEST \hROUTE TO THE WESTERN U.S.

UNTIL THE EARLY 1800s.

AT VIRGINIA‘S SOUTHERN BORDER \h\hSITS THE CITY OF BRISTOL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUILT ON THE SITE OF A FORMER CHEROKEE VILLAGE,

THE TOWN WAS A POPULAR STOP \h\hFOR PEOPLE HEADING WEST

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DANIEL BOONE.

BUT BRISTOL MAY BE BEST KNOWN \hFOR A VICIOUS BORDER DISPUTE

WITH THE NEIGHBORING TOWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF BRISTOL.

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE, THAT IS.

THE STATE LINE RAN RIGHT DOWN \h\hTHE MIDDLE OF MAIN STREET.

IN 1889, A TENNESSEE MAN \h\h\h\h\h\hWAS ARRESTED

FOR TRYING TO PUT A WATERLINE

IN WHAT VIRGINIA OFFICIALS \hCLAIMED WAS THEIR LAND.

WITH TEMPERS FLARING,

ARMED MILITIAS HEADED OUT \h\h\h\h\hFROM EACH STATE.

\hBUT THE BATTLE ENDED UP IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT,

WHICH ORDERED THE BORDER TO BE \hFINALIZED ONCE AND FOR ALL.

IN A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH,

\h\h\hTHE TWO BRISTOLS ERECTED A MASSIVE SIGN

OVER THE APTLY RENAMED \h\h\h\hSTATE STREET:

ONE HALF OF IT IN VIRGINIA, THE OTHER HALF IN TENNESSEE.

BACK IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

CIVIL WAR BUFFS CAN VISIT A SPOT THAT REVEALS HISTORY TIMES TWO.

MANASSAS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

IS THE SITE OF A PAIR OF DEADLY ENCOUNTERS--

THE FIRST AND SECOND BATTLES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF BULL RUN.

ON JULY 21, 1861, THE CIVIL WAR WAS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY.

WHEN UNION TROOPS ARRIVED HERE, THEY EXPECTED A QUICK VICTORY--

AND A SHORT WAR.

\h\h\hAT FIRST, THE UNION ARMY SEEMED TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND

ON HENRY HILL.

\hBUT ONE GROUP OF SOLDIERS MANAGED TO HOLD THEIR GROUND

\h\hBEHIND GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON.

A FELLOW OFFICER SHOUTED,

"LOOK! THERE IS JACKSON STANDING THERE LIKE A STONE WALL."

\h\hAND FROM THAT DAY ON, HE WAS KNOWN AS STONEWALL.

AS THE BATTLE RAGED ON, THE SOUTHERNERS MANAGED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PUSH BACK THEIR NORTHERN COUNTERPARTS.

BUT THE TWO SIDES HAD LOST \h\h\hA TOTAL OF 900 MEN.

AND ANY HOPE FOR A FAST END \h\hTO THE WAR HAD VANISHED.

HERE ON BATTERY HEIGHTS,

THE TWO ARMIES FACED OFF AGAIN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AUGUST 1862.

\hBY THEN, THEY WERE MUCH MORE SEASONED--

AND THE STAKES WERE EVEN HIGHER.

\hUNION GENERAL JOHN POPE SET UP HEADQUARTERS BEHIND THIS HOUSE,

AND PLOTTED A RETURN STRIKE \h\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST JACKSON.

\h\h\h\h\hA SERIES OF UNCOORDINATED ATTACKS

\h\h\hDID LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.

FINALLY, AFTER THREE DAYS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF FIGHTING,

THE UNION ARMY FLED \hOVER STONE BRIDGE.

\h\h\hTHE RESULT WAS ONE OF THE SOUTH‘S GREAT TRIUMPHS.

THEIR VICTORY WAS SHORT-LIVED.

LESS THAN A MONTH LATER,

\h\h\h\hABRAHAM LINCOLN UNVEILED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION--

A DECISIVE MOMENT IN ENDING \hSLAVERY AND THE CIVIL WAR.

FROM ITS PRE-REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS TO ITS CIVIL WAR BATTLES,

FROM ITS CELEBRATION \h\hOF ARCHITECTURE

\hTO ITS PRESERVATION OF NATURAL SPLENDOR--

VIRGINIA HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN THE SHAPING OF MODERN AMERICA.

BY CELEBRATING THE TRADITIONS \h\h\hOF ITS FOUNDING FATHERS

\h\hWITHOUT LOSING ITS SENSE OF FUN--

VIRGINIA REMAINS A PLACE WELL ROOTED IN THE PAST

YET FIRMLY GROUNDED \h\hIN THE PRESENT,

AND WELL POSITIONED \h\hFOR THE FUTURE.