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Few prominent Americans are as associated with a place as Thomas Jefferson is with Virginia. The heart of "Jefferson Country" is his house and plantation at Monticello, but Jefferson traveled the breadth of his home state, from his time at William & Mary in Williamsburg to the new state capital at Richmond and his retreat and plantation at Poplar Forest, near Lynchburg. In the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jefferson was inspired to write his only book, Notes on the State of Virginia. Laura A. Macaluso demonstrates the many facets of the man, the scholar and the statesman in this guide to the Virginia he loved.

George Washington was first and foremost a Virginian. Born in the state's Tidewater region, he was reared near Fredericksburg and took up residence at Mount Vernon along the Potomac River.

As a young surveyor, he worked in Virginia's backcountry. He began his military career as a Virginia militia officer on the colony's frontier. The majority of his widespread landholdings were in his native state, and his entrepreneurial endeavors ranged from the swamplands of the Southeast to the upper Potomac River Valley. Historian John Maass explores the numerous sites all over the Commonwealth associated with Washington and demonstrates their lasting importance.

Take a tour of Virginia's scenic rail trails with author Joe Tennis as he explores restored train stations, discovers a railroad's lost island graveyard and crosses the commonwealth on its idyllic paths.

These classic rail lines of Virgina that were once only accessible to train engineers or a few lucky passengers can now be enjoyed by anyone looking for a scenic hike or bike ride. The trails highlight the natural beauty of Old Dominion, from the sunrise side of the Eastern Shore to the setting sun at the Cumberland gap, and each trail, with names like the "Virginia Creeper" and the "Dick & Willie," has a personality and grandeur all its own.

Unlike many small towns in the South that were occupied by the Union army, beautiful Staunton, Virginia, emerged from the Civil War largely unscathed. Join historian
Edmund Potter on a walking tour through the many architectural gems and notable buildings of downtown
Staunton's five National Historic Districts. From the
picturesque Wharf Area to the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson to the town's many historically African American businesses, A Guide to Historic Staunton offers visitors and residents alike a deeper appreciation of their remarkable surroundings.

Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County have the peaceful charm of another era. Author Jean Cooper reveals fascinating details of Charlottesville's history at every turn.

Nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this area's celebrated allure comes from a storied past filled with intriguing people and events. Author and local resident Jean Cooper brings Charlottesville's past to life while providing a useful guide to the city's most historic streets, buildings and neighborhoods. This guide invites all to explore different time periods of Charlottesville's history including the colonial era, the War for Independence, the Civil War and early twentieth century.

Route 58 stretches across all five hundred miles of Virginia, from the sandy shores of the Atlantic to the waterfalls and wild ponies of the Blue Ridge Highlands. Weird, quirky and intriguing legends and lore lie along this historic highway, including a UFO landing in South Hill, Virginia Beach's "witch duck" controversy of 1706 and Nat Turner's bloody insurrection in 1831. Country music icon Johnny Cash played his final shows at the world-famous Carter Fold. Civil War skirmishes touched towns. The "Wreck of the Old 97" happened in Danville, and haunting memories of a schoolhouse lost to a tornado remain in Rye Cove. Author Joe Tennis provides a guide to Route 58 with a trail of tales, accompanied by easy driving directions and vivid photography.