Virginia Vacation and Travel Ideas for Literary Tours
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
P. O. Box 316
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Website http://www.monticello.org
Email: Go to "Contact" section of website
Phone: (434) 984-9822
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), third president of the United States, was the author of the Declaration of Independence as well as the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. Jefferson's writings about political philosophy, religion, architecture, agriculture, and a host of other matters have been anthologized in a wide variety of volumes.
Jefferson began building his home, Monticello, when he was twenty-six years old, and continually redesigned and rebuilt portions of the house, expanding and improving on his original conception. Monticello is not only of historical significance, but an architectural masterpiece. Also a showcase for landscape design, the house is set on 5,000 acres, and surrounded by stunning gardens, orchards, and walkways. Tours of the house focus on the life of Thomas Jefferson and his family, as well as on the lives of the many enslaved people who built and worked on the plantation., Monticello houses fine art, furnishings, various personal items and books which give insight into Jefferson and the time period. The gardens and the grounds are spectacular as well with every kind of flower one can imagine with a winding walk and oval flower beds. The gardens have over 31 varieties of fruits. The 5,000 acre plantation is a historical timepiece, since workers were both black and white slaves. Now it is a serene place for summer strolls. .
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Edgar Allan Poe Museum
1914-16 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23223
Website: http://www.poemuseum.org/
Email: info@poemuseum.org
Phone: (804) 648-5523
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), widely known for his macabre stories, is considered the father of today's detective fiction. Born in Boston, Poe lived in Baltimore, Richmond, New York, and in Philadelphia during a tumultuous and troubled life. He died and was buried in Baltimore at the age of 40.
The Poe Museum is home to an extensive collection of Poe's manuscripts, letters, first editions, memorabilia, and personal belongings. Exhibits document Poe's life and career through a variety of artifacts, focusing in particular on his years in Richmond.
Other noteworthy Poe sites include:
Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore. For more information, see , visit: http://www.eapoe.org/ or call: (410) 821-1285 (no calls after 10pm)
The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in the Bronx, New York. For more information, see
visit: http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/about/poecottage.html, or call:: (718) 881-8900. Additional information about Poe in Baltimore is available at: http://www.eapoe.org/, or by calling: (410) 821-1285.
The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For more information, see , visit: http://www.nps.gov/edal/, or call: (215) 597-8780
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The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama
June Tolliver Playhouse
518 Clinton Avenue East
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
Website: http://www.trailofthelonesomepine.org/
Email: info@trailofthelonesomepine.org
Phone: (276) 523-1235 or (800) 362-0149
Virginia's official outdoor drama takes place in front of a 72-foot panoramic painting. It is a love story between a mountain girl and Eastern coal engineer during the upstart of the Industrial Revolution. The musical numbers show the tragedy and violence of being forced into drastic changes. However, the Virginian humor and fun overpowers to create an American happy ending. This year's play season is from June 29-August 26. Tickets are reasonably priced at $15 per adult and $8 per child. Special note: There is pre-show entertainment so get there early.
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Booker T. Washington Monument
12130 Booker T. Washington Highway
Hardy, VA 241010
Website: http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?AttrID=10116&MGrp=1&MCat=2
Email: connie_mays@nps.gov
Phone: (540) 721-2094
Author, educator, and civic leader Booker T. Washington (1856 - 1915) was born into slavery in Virginia, and received his freedom in 1865 with the Emancipation Proclamation. His autobiography, Up From Slavery (1901), was a best seller, and had a tremendous impact on the African American community and its allies. Washington was the first African-American to visit the White House as a guest, at the invitation of President Theodore Roosevelt. He worked tirelessly throughout his life to improve race relations in the U.S.
The Booker T. Washington Monument marks Washington's birthplace and boyhood home. The site offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn how slavery and the plantation system functioned on a smaller scale. Tours are available, weather permitting, and an interpretive center offers an introductory video and exhibits about Washington.
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