National Monuments - Virginia

Booker T. Washington National Monument

4/3/1998 … while heading up to Booker T. Washington NHS. Walked around the reconstructed farm where Washington was a slave until 9 years old. Nice farm with many animals and log buildings. Took a nature walk along a river - quite hot, about 84 deg. Also saw a good video about BTW.

The park sign

A wide view of the farm ...

... and me in a building

Fort Monroe National Monument

6/21/2013 We continued across the Hampton Roads to Hampton and into Fort Monroe NM (and NHL). This site only became an NPS unit in the last couple years. Fort Monroe, completed in 1834, guarded the navigational channel between the Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads. We parked at the Casement Museum and enjoyed the extensive displays in the arched bays within the walls of the fort. This fort quartered Robert E. Lee early in his career and also held Jefferson Davis after the war. After the museum we walked up on top of the ramparts for a good view.

Park signage

Where Lee was held

Many big cannons protected the fort

A view of one of the many arched bays

Nice view from the ramparts

Attractive quarters within the fort

A view of the construction

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

9/21/1996 Continued east to George Washington’s Birthplace NM in George Washington Birthplace [Colonial Beach] with car lunch again. Took a nice walk along Popes Creek to the site where G.W. was born (house burned down when he was at Morristown). On the plantation is now a reconstructed house and farm. Beautiful brick house with wood paneling. Played a harpsichord made in Williamsburg (modern times!). More walking around the kitchen building, weaving area, etc. Drove a short ways to where G.W.’s g-grandfather, grandfather, father, etc. (32 relatives) are buried.

The park sign

The nice house reconstruction

Great interiors

Me poking out a little Bach

One of the many graves