Homes And Gardens In Old Virginia

Home to Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World, Virginia is in many ways the birthplace of America and the home of U.S. history. It is also literally the birthplace of eight presidents and numerous Revolutionary and Civil War heroes. Virginia was among the wealthiest southern states in the antebellum period, resulting in a long tradition of stately homes on luxuriant plantations. In addition to their elegant architecture and classic southern styling, these homes feature some of the most extravagant and noteworthy gardens on the eastern seaboard. From the James River Plantations to the Shenandoah foothills, Virginia's Historic Homes and Gardens celebrates the legendary houses and landscapes of Old Dominion. Virginia natives, the authors travel throughout the state to highlight the best of the famous and lesser-known homes. Including such national landmarks as George Washington's Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, the book brilliantly illustrates the homes exteriors and interiors as well as their gardens and landscaping. Historical details accompany the exquisite color photographs, along with useful information on each site's location.

During the 1930s in the United States, the Works Progress Administration developed the Federal Writers’ Project to support writers and artists while making a national effort to document the country’s shared history and culture. The American Guide series consists of individual guides to each of the states. Little-known authors—many of whom would later become celebrated literary figures—were commissioned to write these important books. John Steinbeck, Saul Bellow, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ralph Ellison are among the more than 6,000 writers, editors, historians, and researchers who documented this celebration of local histories. Photographs, drawings, driving tours, detailed descriptions of towns, and rich cultural details exhibit each state’s unique flavor. The WPA Guide to Virgina documents the vital role the Old Dominion played in the history of the first 150 years of the United States and before. It is packed with historical information, particularly from the Colonial and Revolutionary years, and supplemented with photos of historic buildings and sites. Also worth note are the artistic photographs of the state’s ordinary people and its natural beauty, including the Shenandoah and Chesapeake Bay regions.

The stretch of U.S. Route 15 in Virginia's Piedmont passes through some of the most beautiful and historic land in the United States. Also known as the James Madison Highway, the route links land north and south of the Mason-Dixon Line and follows the same general path used for centuries by Native Americans, colonists, armies, and presidents. As postcards and automobiles became popular in the 20th century, travelers could find postcards for the towns of Leesburg, Warrenton, Culpeper, and Orange. They tell a story of great people and great events, as well as providing a glimpse of daily life for those who lived along this byway.