November 2010

This geological formation has carved out a gorge in the mountainous limestone terrain of Cedar Creek, forming an arch 215 ft high with a span of 90 ft wide. It consists of horizontal limestone strata, and is the remains of the roof of a cave or tunnel through which the creek once flowed. Before the settlers came to the New World, the Natural Bridge was a sacred site of the Native American Monacan Indians. The initials "G.W." were carved into the wall of the bridge, and it is believed that it was written by George Washington before he became president. Later, Thomas Jefferson purchased 157 acres of land including the Natural Bridge from King George III of England in 1774. Jefferson built a two-room log cabin, with one room reserved for guests, beginning its use as a retreat.

Visitors can walk some distance to the end of the trail underneath the bridge, beyond which the remnant of the waterfall that helped to form the bridge can be seen. Also, visitors are invited to see the sound and light show each evening at dusk.

Belle Grove was home to the sister, Nelly Conway Madison, of President James Madison. During the Civil War, Belle Grove was at the center of the decisive Battle of Belle Grove or Cedar Creek. Today, the plantation includes the main house and gardens, original outbuildings, a classic 1918 barn, an overseer's house, the slave cemetery, a heritage apple orchard, fields and meadows, and scenic mountain views. This plantation was once a grain and livestock farm, and today, the home remains essentially unchanged. Visitors are invited to explore through this historic 18th century estate and surrounding grounds.

Open daily since 1878, these caverns are the largest in all of the eastern United States. The gold colors come from iron and clay soils seeping from the ground and the calcium carbonate "drips."

Some of the most spectacular creations were formed just one drip at at time, such as Giant's Hall, vast expansive chambers decorated by predominately golden columns, which stands 10-stories tall. Luray Caverns is home to several impressive formations, including, Titania's Veil, an all white crystalline drip structure, and the Frozen Fountain, a massive, rounded white flowstone. The impressive Stalacpipe Organ is played from a regular-size organ, but its organ pipes are the stalactites themselves, spreading over 3.5 underground acres, and wired with little rubber mallets. Each tour group is treated to music from the organ.

The first church building of Augustus Lutheran Church is still standing and is the oldest unchanged Lutheran Church building in continuous use in the United States. The church building predates the Declaration of Independence by one generation, and through its simple and sturdy construction speaks to us in the language of another age. It expresses the resourcefulness of the pioneers in building homes, and schools, and churches, and in training men and women who later helped to carve Liberty out of hard conditions and desperate circumstances.

Arrowhead, Melville's home in the Berkshires, influenced him greatly in his writing. The view of Mount Greylock from his study window, the one that brought him to Arrowhead, was said to be his inspiration for the white whale in Moby-Dick, which was written by Melville during his time at Arrowhead. He dedicated his next novel, Pierre, to Mount Greylock. His short story, “The Piazza,” begins at Arrowhead and takes a magical journey to the mountain. Arrowhead is now a house museum interpreting the life of the Melville family in the Berkshires.

From 1859 to 1861, this early 19th-century dwelling near the county courthouse was home to Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and his wife Mary Anna. It was built for Cornelius Dorman in 1801 as a typical Valley I-house. The facade was altered and a stone addition was erected before Jackson bought it. In 1906, the house was sold to the United Daughters of the Confederacy and incorporated into the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, with the front being completely altered in a Classical Revival style. In the 1970s, the Historic Lexington Foundation, with architect Milton L. Grigg, undertook the restoration of the house to its appearance during Jackson's tenure, even reproducing the mid-19th-century facade with its shifted openings. The house is now a museum honoring the life of one the most brilliant military tacticians in history. Jackson is buried beneath his statue in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in downtown Lexington.

Since the days of Robert E. Lee, Lee Chapel has been at the heart of life on the campus of Washington and Lee University. Imbued with tradition, it continues to be a gathering place for the University's most important events.

The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott, Arkansas includes a barn-studio associated with Ernest Hemingway and the family home of his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Pauline's parents, Paul and Mary Pfeiffer, were prominent citizens of Northeast Arkansas and owned more than 60,000 acres of land. During the 1930s the barn was converted to a studio to give Hemingway privacy for writing while visiting Piggott.

This pre-1760s massive stone home is a classic example of early Germanic settlement in the Mid-Atlantic American colonies. The Antes home served often as an evangelical and political meeting place. Antes was responsible for the construction of many of the buildings of the time and is considered one of the most important religious/political leaders of the time, specifically because he preached tolerance and understanding.

The Alabama Theatre was built in 1927 by Paramount Studios as an Alabama showcase for Paramount films. It was used primarily as a movie palace for 55 years, with the exception of the annual Miss Alabama pageant and the weekly Mickey Mouse Club. In 1987, the owners of the facility declared bankruptcy and the theatre was purchased by Birmingham Landmarks Inc., a non-profit corporation.

The new Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts hosts many live events, as well as films. Each year the Theatre hosts over 300 events attended by a half million Birmingham area citizens.

In 1998, the Theatre underwent a complete front door to back door restoration. The work was done by EverGreene Studios from New York City. In 8 months, the theatre went from its look of faded grandeur to a sparkling 1927 look with all the gold leaf paint either replaced or cleaned. In addition to the restoration, new carpet was installed in the ladies lounge and new drapes were installed on the stage and organ chambers.