The Civil war ended in Virginia on April 9th, 1865. Our visit to Appomattox Courthouse, now a National Historic Park, has been my favorite Civil War site. This mural in the park museum is as close to the real event as any every painted. Lee on the left is surrendering to Grant on the right. The man with the sword is Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the president.
The event took place on this property...
...in this house...
...in this very livingroom.Grant sat at the little table and Lee sat behind the marble topped table. The terms of the surrender pledged that the combatants would never raise up arms against the United States. Lee was not asked to surrender his sword. The men simply shook hands. The park ranger explained that this was by directive of Abraham Lincoln. The ending of the war took only about three hours and the Union was reunited.
A printing press was set up in the town tavern and 30,000 passes or "paroles" were printed in two days allowing the Confederates to return to their homes.
The ending of this bloody and horrible war was humane. A year after the war this little cemetary was established by the women of the community. There are 19 graves, 18 Confederate and 1 Union. Only 7 are identified. There's a touching poignancy to its existance.
There are several interesting sites in Lexington, VA. The campus of Washington and Lee University is beautiful with red brick columned buildings in a hilly setting.
The university is home to Lee Chapel, Lee was president of the university from 1865 until his death in 1870. He started the chapel as a religious meeting place. It was never consecrated as a church. Today it serves as a museum and as the final resting place for Lee and members of his family. His beloved horse, Traveler, is buried outside.
Virginia Military Institute was established in 1839. It has a great military tradition, graduating officers to this day. All the buildings are light grey and imposing. There are cadets all over town. It was cold and raining the day we arrived. It was interesting to see the cadets still in summer whites with short sleeves, and no jackets.
VMI has produced more Medal of Honor recipients than any other military institution. They are on display in the VMI Museum.
This is the only house ever owned by Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. He purchased it in 1859. It sits in downtown Lexington within walking distance of VMI where Jackson was professor of physics. He was much beloved at VMI where he has been honored with memorials and statues around the campus.
The back of the home boasts a garden. Jackson and his family are interred just a few blocks from the house. Jackson was killed in battle in 1863 before the Battle of Gettysburg.
Our tour of presidential museums continued in Staunton, VA at the Woodrow Wilson birthplace and Museum.
A printing press was set up in the town tavern and 30,000 passes or "paroles" were printed in two days allowing the Confederates to return to their homes.
The ending of this bloody and horrible war was humane. A year after the war this little cemetary was established by the women of the community. There are 19 graves, 18 Confederate and 1 Union. Only 7 are identified. There's a touching poignancy to its existance.
There are several interesting sites in Lexington, VA. The campus of Washington and Lee University is beautiful with red brick columned buildings in a hilly setting.
The university is home to Lee Chapel, Lee was president of the university from 1865 until his death in 1870. He started the chapel as a religious meeting place. It was never consecrated as a church. Today it serves as a museum and as the final resting place for Lee and members of his family. His beloved horse, Traveler, is buried outside.
Virginia Military Institute was established in 1839. It has a great military tradition, graduating officers to this day. All the buildings are light grey and imposing. There are cadets all over town. It was cold and raining the day we arrived. It was interesting to see the cadets still in summer whites with short sleeves, and no jackets.
VMI has produced more Medal of Honor recipients than any other military institution. They are on display in the VMI Museum.
This is the only house ever owned by Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. He purchased it in 1859. It sits in downtown Lexington within walking distance of VMI where Jackson was professor of physics. He was much beloved at VMI where he has been honored with memorials and statues around the campus.
The back of the home boasts a garden. Jackson and his family are interred just a few blocks from the house. Jackson was killed in battle in 1863 before the Battle of Gettysburg.
Our tour of presidential museums continued in Staunton, VA at the Woodrow Wilson birthplace and Museum.Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the son of a Presbyterian minister. He grew up dyslexic and could not read until he was 11 years old. The family lived in the church manse - a beautiful gracious home where his father could discharge his church duties.
Wilson attended Princeton University, completed law school though he didn't enjoy lawyering, became president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey, president of the United States from 1912-1920, attended the Paris Peace Conference that established the League of Nations, instituted the Federal Reserve, and won a Nobel Peace prize. And we hardly ever think about him...
Wilson attended Princeton University, completed law school though he didn't enjoy lawyering, became president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey, president of the United States from 1912-1920, attended the Paris Peace Conference that established the League of Nations, instituted the Federal Reserve, and won a Nobel Peace prize. And we hardly ever think about him...He bought his Pierce-Arrow limo from the government after he left office
The 14 Points are the basis of The League of Nation.
We continue to run into interesting people! We met Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
This beautiful farm was designed by Jefferson. His interests ran the gamut from science to art and music. He was a man of letters, a politcal visionary, and a slave holder. He was a man of his time.
The back side of Monticello faces the flower garden. Turn over a nickle and you'll see this view.
This road along the side of the home is known as Mulberry Row. The house is off to the right and the garden off to the left. There would have been a row of buildings lining this pathway where all the weaving, woodworking, metal smithing, coopering, and others crafting was done. Monticello was actually a little village. On the day we visited, the leaves were turning, the pumpkins were in the garden. It was idylic. It sits on the top of a little mountain.
The 14 Points are the basis of The League of Nation.
We continue to run into interesting people! We met Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
This beautiful farm was designed by Jefferson. His interests ran the gamut from science to art and music. He was a man of letters, a politcal visionary, and a slave holder. He was a man of his time.
The back side of Monticello faces the flower garden. Turn over a nickle and you'll see this view.
This road along the side of the home is known as Mulberry Row. The house is off to the right and the garden off to the left. There would have been a row of buildings lining this pathway where all the weaving, woodworking, metal smithing, coopering, and others crafting was done. Monticello was actually a little village. On the day we visited, the leaves were turning, the pumpkins were in the garden. It was idylic. It sits on the top of a little mountain. 
We could not photograph inside the home, as is the case in most of the historic properties, but it is filled with personal possessions and furnished as it was when Jefferson lived there.
The guides discussed the slave issues, mostly Sally Hemmings and her children. There is DNA evidence Jefferson fathered her children, but it is never stated definitively.
Lower down on the property is the Jefferson family cemetary, still active today. The obelisk marker was selected by Jefferson for his grave.
We took a drive to Newport News where we took a hike that all 3 of us enjoyed. It was a sunny day and Finn had a great time meeting all the other dogs on the trail.
Newport News is a major shipbuilding center and naval base. This is the aircraft carrier, George Bush. It's so big its a city on the water. It was in for repairs giving us the opportunity to see it.
We drove into Richmond for a day. There was so much to see. Our internet research told us not to miss the Hollywood Cemetary. This is an old cemetary dating back to 1680. It's full of ornate monuments and is the final resting place of three presidents - John Tyler, James Monroe, and Jefferson Davis.
We took a drive to Newport News where we took a hike that all 3 of us enjoyed. It was a sunny day and Finn had a great time meeting all the other dogs on the trail.
Newport News is a major shipbuilding center and naval base. This is the aircraft carrier, George Bush. It's so big its a city on the water. It was in for repairs giving us the opportunity to see it.
We drove into Richmond for a day. There was so much to see. Our internet research told us not to miss the Hollywood Cemetary. This is an old cemetary dating back to 1680. It's full of ornate monuments and is the final resting place of three presidents - John Tyler, James Monroe, and Jefferson Davis.This stone monument was built to honor the Confederate soldiers buried in this area.
We were given a map and told to follow the blue line on the road. The result was a tour of southern history.
The tomb of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. Remember, down here the Civil War is known as the War of Northern Aggression.
Richmond being the capitol of Virginia, has a lovely capitol building in a parklike setting in the center of town.
Washington was born in Virginia. This statue stands on the capitol grounds.
The Museum of the Confederacy in downtown Richmond is nestled beside a hospital. We were told to park in the hospital garage, exit the front door of the hospital and make a sharp left to the museum. Ed loved this museum and described it as outstanding.
Right next door and included in the museum entry is the White House of the Confederacy. We were given a guided tour of this building. It has been restored to the way it was when Jefferson Davis and his family resided there. I enjoyed this part of the tour.
We've enjoyed this part of the country and learned a lot visiting it. Sometimes the Revolutionary and Civil Wars get confused in my head, but I certainly know a lot more than I did before our travels.
We were given a map and told to follow the blue line on the road. The result was a tour of southern history.
The tomb of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. Remember, down here the Civil War is known as the War of Northern Aggression.
Richmond being the capitol of Virginia, has a lovely capitol building in a parklike setting in the center of town.
Washington was born in Virginia. This statue stands on the capitol grounds.
The Museum of the Confederacy in downtown Richmond is nestled beside a hospital. We were told to park in the hospital garage, exit the front door of the hospital and make a sharp left to the museum. Ed loved this museum and described it as outstanding.
Right next door and included in the museum entry is the White House of the Confederacy. We were given a guided tour of this building. It has been restored to the way it was when Jefferson Davis and his family resided there. I enjoyed this part of the tour.
We've enjoyed this part of the country and learned a lot visiting it. Sometimes the Revolutionary and Civil Wars get confused in my head, but I certainly know a lot more than I did before our travels.We're moving on to the Carolinas...
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