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 Natural Bridge:
www.naturalbridgeva.com
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
is a Virginia Landmark and on the National
Register of Historic Places. This
23-story high natural bridge was surveyed by George Washington, who
carved his initials in the rock. Thomas Jefferson owned
the bridge for over 50 years. There are many additional
attractions
found in this area to include a first class hotel and
restaurant, wax museum, caverns, camping, hiking, canoeing,
etc.
Rich in Civil War
History: This fertile valley, the breadbasket of the
Confederacy, with its southwest to northeast
direction provided the Confederacy an ideal 'Avenue of
Invasion.' Stonewall Jackson declared its importance
saying that, "if the valley is lost, Virginia is
lost." The valley had one of the longest all-weather
roads in North America (now Lee Memorial Highway, US Route 11). It
was key to both major
confederate invasions of the North: September 1862,
Sharpsburg, and July 1863, Gettysburg. Three campaigns
centered on the valley: Stonewall Jackson's in 1862;
Spring and Summer 1864 including battles at New Market,
Piedmont, Lexington, Lynchburg, Fort Stevens, Winchester,
Fisher's Hill, Toms Brook, and Cedar Creek; and, the Early vs
Sheridan campaign in the fall of 1864. Several important Civil War battlefield park's,
monuments and museums are dedicated to the memory and preservation
of our civil war history.
Washington and Lee University and Lee Chapel,
www.wlu.edu
National Historic Landmark. The university, founded
in 1749, is the ninth oldest in the United States. George
Washington was the school's first major donor.
General Lee became W&L president following the Civil
War and
used it as a base to encourage reconciliation between North and
South. |
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