Virginia
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| Monticello |
This summer I finally got to some of the historic sites in Virginia that I’d always wanted to see, courtesy of my friend Ginny. We spent a fascinating afternoon at Monticello www.monticello.org. Jefferson really was a remarkable person – so talented in so many different areas. Short on time, we were glad we’d elected to visit Historic Jamestown, the National Park and archaeological site at the actual location, rather than the living history museum Jamestown Settlement. The tour guides were excellent and there is a very good Archaearium.
Exploring the interesting offerings of Williamsburg took a full day – lots of fun to watch cabinet-makers and silversmiths ply their trades. We also learned a lot about early 18th century building construction at Bacon’s Castle in Surry. Richmond surprised us – mansions line one street while the next street is full of tattoo parlors. Also surprising was the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – recently reopened after an extensive expansion, it is a really first-rate museum. Several collections of promised gifts will make it even better. Also worth visiting in Richmond is Maymount – a Gilded Age mansion with the original furnishings, a magnificent Tiffany window, and Italianate and Japanese Gardens.