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Virginia

Virginia

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Best Cities to Visit

  • Richmond
  • Norfolk
  • Williamsburg
  • Fredericksburg
  • Roanoke

Size

110,786 KM2

Population

8,654,542

Spending Budget

$391 - $2,139

Famous For

  • Virginia Beach
  • The Natural Bridge of Virginia
  • Arlington National Cemetery
  • Luray Caverns
  • Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
  • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
  • Frontier Culture Museum

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October

History

Several European expeditions, including a group of Spanish Jesuits, explored the Chesapeake Bay during the 16th century. In 1583, Queen Elizabeth I of England granted Walter Raleigh a charter to plant a colony north of Spanish Florida. In 1584, Raleigh sent an expedition to the Atlantic coast of North America. The name "Virginia" may have been suggested then by Raleigh or Elizabeth, perhaps noting her status as the "Virgin Queen", and may also be related to a native phrase, "Wingandacoa", or name, "Wingina". Initially, the name applied to the entire coastal region from South Carolina to Maine, plus the island of Bermuda. The London Company was incorporated as a joint-stock company by the proprietary Charter of 1606, which granted land rights to this area. The company financed the first permanent English settlement in the "New World", Jamestown. Named for King James I, it was founded in May 1607 by Christopher Newport. In 1619, colonists took greater control with an elected legislature, later called the House of Burgesses. With the bankruptcy of the London Company in 1624, the settlement was taken into royal authority as an English crown colony. A three-story red brick colonial-style hall and it's left and right wings during summer. Williamsburg was Virginia's capital from 1699 to 1780. Life in the colony was perilous, and many died during the Starving Time in 1609 and the Anglo-Powhatan Wars, including the Indian massacre of 1622, which fostered the colonists' negative view of all tribes. By 1624, only 3,400 of the 6,000 early settlers had survived. However, European demand for tobacco fueled the arrival of more settlers and servants. The headright system tried to solve the labour shortage by providing colonists with land for each indentured servant they transported to Virginia. African workers were first imported to Jamestown in 1619 initially under the rules of indentured servitude. The shift to a system of African slavery in Virginia was propelled by the legal cases of John Punch, who was sentenced to lifetime slavery in 1640 for attempting to escape his servitude, and of John Casor, who was claimed by Anthony Johnson as his servant for life in 1655. Slavery first appears in Virginia statutes in 1661 and 1662, when a law made it hereditary based on the mother's status. Tensions and the geographic differences between the working and ruling classes led to Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, by which time current and former indentured servants made up as much as eighty per cent of the population. Rebels, largely from the colony's frontier, were also opposed to the conciliatory policy towards native tribes, and one result of the rebellion was the signing at Middle Plantation of the Treaty of 1677, which made the signatory tribes tributary states and was part of a pattern of appropriating tribal land by force and treaty. Middle Plantation saw the founding of The College of William & Mary in 1693 and was renamed Williamsburg as it became the colonial capital in 1699. In 1747, a group of Virginian speculators formed the Ohio Company, with the backing of the British crown, to start English settlement and trade in the Ohio Country west of the Appalachian Mountains. France, which claimed this area as part of their colony of New France, viewed this as a threat, and the ensuing French and Indian War became part of the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). A militia from several British colonies, called the Virginia Regiment, was led by then-Lieutenant Colonel George Washington.

Present Day

Protests against segregated schools started by Barbara Rose Johns in 1951 in Farmville led to the lawsuit Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County. This case, filed by Richmond natives Spottswood Robinson and Oliver Hill, was decided in 1954 with Brown v. Board of Education, which rejected the segregationist doctrine of "separate but equal". But, in 1958, under the policy of "massive resistance" led by the influential segregationist Senator Harry F. Byrd and his Byrd Organization, the Commonwealth prohibited desegregated local schools from receiving state funding as part of the Stanley Plan. The school closure was again challenged in court, and in 1964 the Supreme Court ordered Prince Edward County and others to integrate schools. A bronze statue of a man riding a horse on a tall pedestal is covered in colourful graffiti. Protests in 2020 were focused on the Confederate monuments in the state. The civil rights movement gained many participants during the 1960s. They achieved the moral force and support to gain passage of national legislation with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1967, the Supreme Court also struck down the state's ban on interracial marriage with Loving v. Virginia. From 1969 to 1971, state legislators under Governor Mills Godwin rewrote the constitution, after goals such as the repeal of Jim Crow laws had been achieved. In 1977, Black members became the majority of Richmond's city council, in 1989, Douglas Wilder became the first African American elected as governor in the United States, and in 1992, Bobby Scott became the first Black congressman from Virginia since 1888. The Cold War led to the expansion of national defence government programs housed in offices in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., and correlative population growth. The Central Intelligence Agency in Langley was involved in various Cold War events, including as the target of Soviet espionage activities. Also among the federal developments was the Pentagon, built during World War II as the headquarters for the Department of Defense. It was one of the targets of the September 11 attacks; 189 people died at the site when a jet passenger plane was flown into the building. Mass shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Virginia Beach in 2019 led to the passage of gun control measures in 2020. Racial injustice and the presence of Confederate monuments in Virginia have also led to large demonstrations, including in August 2017, when a white supremacist drove his car into protesters, killing one, and in June 2020, when protests that were part of the larger Black Lives Matter movement brought about the removal of statues on Monument Avenue in Richmond and elsewhere.

Future

In 2019, Future Now Fund helped to flip Virginia and since we did, Virginia lawmakers have passed policy after policy that has helped improve lives. However, this critical governing majority is just five seats away from being broken in the House of Delegates — the only chamber in the state up for election in 2021. Narrow special interests are hoping to seize back a chamber that works for them, instead of all Virginians. This first election of the Biden presidency will be a litmus test to see if suburban voters will remain energized. Chip in to help Future Now Fund defend this majority! In 2021, the entire House of Delegates will be up for election and Republicans need to win just five seats to break the Democratic majority. It seems likely the election will be conducted under old district lines that favour Republicans because of Census delays. Virginia elections tend to favour the party that does not hold the White House and we know that the radical rightwing is going to be heavily focused on winning back the state. In light of that disadvantage, our endorsed candidates will need real resources to get their message to voters.
Must Visit Places ------------

Colonial Williamsburg

Few places can recreate a setting for the period of the American Revolution as well as Williamsburg, where the original 18th-century buildings are either still standing or have been faithfully reproduced on their original foundations. Here, you can stand where Patrick Henry gave his stirring speech, walk the same streets as Thomas Jefferson, and savour a meal where George Washington enjoyed seafood dinners. Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1705 and throughout the Revolution, and the final battle of the war was fought nearby, so it was a hotbed of the independence movement, along with being one of the most prosperous and politically active colonial capitals. Costumed interpreters help show what life was like for the gentry, the farmers, and the slaves that lived and worked here, and frequent re-enactments add colour and action that makes Williamsburg a fun place to visit for all ages. In addition, you can visit two outstanding museums of folk and decorative arts and dozens of authentically recreated colonial gardens.

Virginia Beach

Named for the wide expanse of golden sand that stretches from just east of Norfolk, Virginia Beach is a very popular and often crowded resort town with the expected hotels, amusements, and a long boardwalk. If the Atlantic Ocean is not warm enough for the children, take them to the 19-acre Ocean Breeze Water Park, with Caribbean-themed waterslides, a wave pool, and a water playground. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Museum explore the climate, seafloor, and fauna of the coast, with an 800,000-gallon aquarium, hands-on exhibits, and a touch tank. Outdoors is an aviary, nature trail, marshlands to explore, and an adventure park. More than 9,000 acres of coastline has been protected in the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where you'll find walking and hiking trails and picnic facilities at the visitor centre. This is a favourite spot for birders, as more than 10,000 birds visit annually, including snow geese, falcons, ducks, and piping plovers. The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum displays historical and contemporary waterfowl decoys. To visit the 1791 Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, which opened up the Chesapeake Bay area to safe navigation, and the nearby New Lighthouse built-in 1881, you will need to pass through security at the Fort Story Military Base. Between Virginia Beach and Norfolk is the entrance to the 20-mile-long engineering marvel Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which spans the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, connecting the mainland to Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive

In the centre of Virginia, Shenandoah National Park protects portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which range in height between 2,000 and 4,000 feet. Along their crest and running the length of the park is the Skyline Drive, the northern continuation of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with stopping points to enjoy the views and attractions, including President Hoover's summer residence and the old Cave Cemetery below Dark Hollow Falls. The beautiful hiking trails are some of the park's main attractions in the park. Flowering trees and shrubs are at their finest in spring and summer, but the park is best known for its autumn colours in October. Only a short drive west from the Skyline Drive on US 211 is Luray Caverns containing magnificent formations of stalactites and stalagmites. One of the cave's highlights is the world's only stalactite organ, where the stalactites resonate when struck with rubber mallets.

Arlington National Cemetery

Spread across 600 acres overlooking Washington, D.C., Arlington National Cemetery is where some of the most famous people in the United States are buried. The most visited are the grave of President John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Kennedy's grave is marked by a slate headstone covered with Cape Cod fieldstone and contains inscriptions of his 1960 inaugural address carved in marble, as well as an eternal flame. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is carved of white marble and watched over by an honour guard 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It contains the remains of soldiers from both World Wars, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. The third site tourists look for is the famous Iwo Jima Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial depicting the Joseph Rosenthal photo of five Marines and one sailor raising the flag on Mount Suribachi. Other notable monuments include the Seabees Memorial, sculpted by former Seabee Felix de Weldon who also created the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, a tribute to all women in the US military. Arlington House was built in the early 1800s by George Washington Parke Custis as a tribute to his step-grandfather, George Washington. However, the house is most famous for being the residence of Robert E. Lee and his wife for 30 years until they abandoned it during the Civil War. Lee was a commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. The house has been restored and now serves as a memorial to him. Near the mansion is the tomb of Pierre L'Enfant, who designed the city of Washington, D.C. His original city plan is etched in stone, and his burial spot commands a beautiful view of the city he planned. The mast of the Battleship Maine is incorporated into a memorial to the casualties of the ship that sunk in Havana Harbor in 1898, leading to the Spanish-American war.

Mount Vernon

George Washington's home from 1754 until his death 45 years later, Mount Vernon was a work in progress under Washington's close supervision, even while he was leading the Continental Army during the Revolution. The architectural design, construction, and even interior décor in each renovation and addition received his personal attention, resulting in the gracious 21-room plantation house you see today. You may be surprised at the vivid paint and wallpaper colours throughout the house, but these shades were popular in the late 18th century — the bright green walls in the "New Room" were Washington's favourite. Unlike many historic homes, Mount Vernon is filled with personal reminders of George and Martha Washington: family portraits, crests, and the couple's belongings. The grounds and gardens overlooking views of the Potomac River were a great pride of the first president, and again he took a personal part in their planning and care. He chose a less formal and more natural plan than his predecessors, reshaping the lawns and paths and planting native species of trees and shrubs. The outbuildings have been preserved or reconstructed, and you'll often see the many skills used on the plantation demonstrated: blacksmithing, ploughing, sheep shearing, weaving, even grinding grain at the water-powered gristmill.

Monticello and Charlottesville

One of the finest country houses in the United States and one of the most visited presidential homes, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is a Palladian-style mansion he designed himself, inspired by a villa outside Vicenza, Italy. He continued altering and improving it over a period of forty years, from 1768 to 1809. Throughout the house, you'll see several of Jefferson's inventions, which show another facet of the versatile man's talents. To the rear of the house are the extensive historic gardens, also designed by Jefferson, and below is the family cemetery with an obelisk marking Jefferson's grave. An interesting outdoor exhibit, Landscape of Slavery: Mulberry Row at Monticello, sheds light on the lives of the people who worked and lived on the 5,000-acre plantation. The Monticello Visitors Center has more than 400 items on display, an introductory film, and hands-on activities for children. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819 and also designed its red-brick buildings. Be sure to see the outstanding Rotunda; fans of Edgar Allan Poe can see his room in the West Building. The university's Art Museum has a permanent collection of American, European, and Asian art. Not far from Monticello is Ash Lawn-Highland, the country house of President James Monroe, with beautiful period gardens. At Michie Tavern, built during Jefferson's time, you can dine in 18th-century surroundings.

Jamestown and Yorktown

Colonial National Historic Park encompasses both Jamestown and Yorktown, where the Revolution ended. Jamestown is the oldest British settlement on North American soil, established in 1607 by Captain John Smith. Only the foundations of the 1639 church tower, the churchyard, and the outlines of a few other buildings remain of the original settlement, but you'll find a re-creation of a Powhatan village based on contemporary drawings and archaeological finds, and replicas of the three ships that brought the settlers from England: Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. Jamestown Settlement was built in 1957 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Jamestown's founding. A museum and exhibition galleries focus on England's colonization in the New World, the history and culture of the Powhatans, and Jamestown's first 100 years. The statue of Pocahontas by William Ordway Partridge was erected in 1922 in memory of her role in smoothing relations between the Native Americans and the settlers. The statue of John Smith by William Couper was erected in 1909. Triangular James Fort is a re-creation of the one constructed by the colonists, with thatch-roofed structures representing Jamestown's earliest buildings. Although none of the original buildings is still standing, the foundations are still in place, and you can see them on a half-mile walk through New Towne, part of Colonial National Historical Park. It was at Yorktown Battlefield that the English Army under Lord Cornwallis surrendered to the combined American and French Armies, paving the way for American Independence. The events on the battlefield are well documented and easy to understand from the interpretive displays and dioramas. Park Ranges also guide frequent tours, and you can see the early 18th-century Moore House where Cornwallis surrendered. Nelson House, which has a cannonball lodged in the wall near the upper window, is well-restored and an excellent example of Georgian architecture. Grace Episcopal Church has been standing since 1697 despite the ravages of war during the sieges of Yorktown in 1781 and 1862 and despite the fire of 1814. Communion silver dating from 1649 is still in use.

Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns contain breathtaking examples of calcite formations within an extensive underground system that sometimes feels more like an alien landscape than a terrestrial natural landmark. Visitors can walk through the caves and admire these limestone crystals, which have, over the centuries, formed an impressive landscape. Among the highlights are Titania's Veil; the giant Double Column; interior lakes, which magnify the scene; and a one-of-a-kind musical instrument called the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which creates music using the stalactites themselves. In addition to the caves, visitors can also enjoy other attractions as part of the admission. The Luray Valley Museum explores the history of the Shenandoah Valley throughout a seven-acre 19th-century village, which is filled with both authentic and reproduction buildings and artefacts. The Car

Chincoteague and Assateague Islands

Assateague is a 38-mile-long barrier island to the east of Chincoteague Island, which it protects from the Atlantic Ocean. The entire island of Assateague, which is partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia, is protected as a wildlife sanctuary. The southern end of Chincoteague is protected by a National Wildlife Refuge with 14,000 acres of shoreline, fresh and saltwater marshes, wetlands, and forest habitat for more than 320 species of shorebirds and waterfowl. But the two islands' most famous residents are the wild ponies. Partly because of these ponies and partly because Assateague Island is lined by one of the most beautiful beaches on the entire Atlantic Coast, these islands get about one-and-a-half million visitors each year. Along with watching the wild ponies, you can swim, walk nature trails, take wildlife tours by boat or bus, watch birds, visit the famous lighthouse, kayak, go fishing, and collect seashells.

Natural Bridge of Virginia

Towering more than 215 feet high with a span of 90 feet, the Natural Bridge is one of America's oldest tourist attractions and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was one of the two most popular sights for European visitors, ranking with Niagara Falls. It was formed by the collapse of a cavern through which the Cedar Creek flowed. The legend that George Washington surveyed the bridge for Lord Fairfax gained credence when a rock with his initials and survey mark was discovered in 1927. Thomas Jefferson owned the land for some time, building a log cabin here as a retreat. In 2014, Natural Bridge became a state park. Stroll along Cedar Creek Trail from Cascade Falls, under the bridge, and to Lace Falls, visiting an exhibit on the Monacans, the local Native American tribe, and a saltpetre mine used during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. US Route 11 runs over the top of the bridge. Nearby are Natural Bridge Caverns, where you can go 34 stories underground to see the Colossal Dome room, Mirror Lake, and the stalactites and stalagmites. Natural Bridge Zoo is known for its work in breeding rare and endangered species and for the chance for visitors to interact with some of the animals.