Monthly Archives: June 2012
Not Your Disney’s Jamestown
“Is that William Kelso?” asked Kathie. She was looking toward a cluster of people around an archeological dig at Jamestown, Virginia. I wasn’t sure which person in the cluster she was talking about, but since I had no clue who
Not Your Disney’s Jamestown
“Is that William Kelso?” asked Kathie. She was looking toward a cluster of people around an archeological dig at Jamestown, Virginia. I wasn’t sure which person in the cluster she was talking about, but since I had no clue who
Clifton Inn
It must have been hard being Thomas Jefferson’s son-in-law. You might have been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a U.S. congressman and governor of Virginia but history books will always start your entry with “…married to Thomas
Clifton Inn
It must have been hard being Thomas Jefferson’s son-in-law. You might have been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a U.S. congressman and governor of Virginia but history books will always start your entry with “…married to Thomas
A Visit with Colonel Monroe
We should all be familiar (at least the Americans) with Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s 1851 painting called Washington Crossing the Delaware. But do you know the identity of the man standing behind General Washington, holding the flag? It’s Lieutenant James Monroe, who would
A Visit with Colonel Monroe
We should all be familiar (at least the Americans) with Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s 1851 painting called Washington Crossing the Delaware. But do you know the identity of the man standing behind General Washington, holding the flag? It’s Lieutenant James Monroe, who would
200 South Street
“I don’t know if I can sleep in here with him staring at me,” I said, about the portrait above the mantel. It was the typical 19th century portrait of a stern man in black. Actually, he didn’t look that stern. He
200 South Street
“I don’t know if I can sleep in here with him staring at me,” I said, about the portrait above the mantel. It was the typical 19th century portrait of a stern man in black. Actually, he didn’t look that stern. He
Backstairs Monticello
I’ve never been a Thomas Jefferson fan. Where others see complexity, I see selfishness. And the Monticello Behind the Scenes tour just confirmed that opinion. Monticello, just south of Charlottesville, Virginia, was the primary home of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was, as he
Backstairs Monticello
I’ve never been a Thomas Jefferson fan. Where others see complexity, I see selfishness. And the Monticello Behind the Scenes tour just confirmed that opinion. Monticello, just south of Charlottesville, Virginia, was the primary home of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was, as he
Wine Among the Ruins
Can you guess who designed the house in the picture above? Yes, I know it’s just ruins. But you can tell that it has an octagonal room, and Palladian features. Other hints: (1) it’s 15 miles north of Charlottesville, Virginia; and
Wine Among the Ruins
Can you guess who designed the house in the picture above? Yes, I know it’s just ruins. But you can tell that it has an octagonal room, and Palladian features. Other hints: (1) it’s 15 miles north of Charlottesville, Virginia; and
Of Mice and Madison
A few years ago, staff working on the restoration of James Madison’s (President #4, for the nonAmericans) central Virginia estate, Montpelier, found a mouse nest behind a wall. Upon examining it closely, they discovered that the nest had been built of items that the
Of Mice and Madison
A few years ago, staff working on the restoration of James Madison’s (President #4, for the nonAmericans) central Virginia estate, Montpelier, found a mouse nest behind a wall. Upon examining it closely, they discovered that the nest had been built of items that the
Outside Hampton
You’d never know, from its peaceful setting, that Hampton sits just a few hundred feet from the Baltimore beltway. A little traffic noise is all that hints that those trees at the edge of the formal garden covers a large
Outside Hampton
You’d never know, from its peaceful setting, that Hampton sits just a few hundred feet from the Baltimore beltway. A little traffic noise is all that hints that those trees at the edge of the formal garden covers a large
Inside Hampton
Best. Tour. Ever. I suppose I should qualify that with “that I can remember” or “of a historic site,” since I’ve seen hundreds of historic sites and taken just as many tours. But until I remember something else, the tour
Inside Hampton
Best. Tour. Ever. I suppose I should qualify that with “that I can remember” or “of a historic site,” since I’ve seen hundreds of historic sites and taken just as many tours. But until I remember something else, the tour
The Sublime
When we told him that we were going to Natural Bridge one morning, our innkeeper warned us, “Don’t be put off by the tacky gift shop, where you buy your ticket. I’ve had guests who have just turned around and
The Sublime
When we told him that we were going to Natural Bridge one morning, our innkeeper warned us, “Don’t be put off by the tacky gift shop, where you buy your ticket. I’ve had guests who have just turned around and
