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The stretch of U.S. Route 15 in Virginia's Piedmont passes through some of the most beautiful and historic land in the United States. Also known as the James Madison Highway, the route links land north and south of the Mason-Dixon Line and follows the same general path used for centuries by Native Americans, colonists, armies, and presidents. As postcards and automobiles became popular in the 20th century, travelers could find postcards for the towns of Leesburg, Warrenton, Culpeper, and Orange. They tell a story of great people and great events, as well as providing a glimpse of daily life for those who lived along this byway.

Gadsby's Tavern was at the center of daily life in late-18th and early-19th-century Alexandria. Operated by John Gadsby from 1796 to 1808, the tavern served both local citizens and travelers on their way to the nation's new capital. Gadsby's was a venue for dancing assemblies, performances, and celebratory dinners. Among its most famous patrons were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. By the early 20th century, the tavern buildings were in danger of being demolished. Saved from the wrecking ball in 1929 by American Legion Post 24, Gadsby's became the cornerstone of Alexandria's historic preservation movement. In 1972, the American Legion donated the site to the City of Alexandria. Following a full restoration, Gadsby's reopened as part of America's bicentennial celebration. Today, Gadsby's Tavern Museum is a dynamic historic house museum, interpreting history to more than 25,000 visitors a year.

The Colonial Parkway is a living timeline to the critical beginnings of our nation. Connecting a historic triangle of cities, the parkway winds along the James River overlooking Jamestown Island, where the first permanent English colony was established; through Williamsburg, the Colonial seat of government for the new country; and arrives in Yorktown, where the fledgling nation won independence from the British at the end of the Revolutionary War. The vision of the early directors of the U.S. National Park Service became the foundation for getting the approval to construct a road that would allow visitors to move from one historic place to the next without the disruptions of the modern world. Construction began in the early 1930s, and the final phase was finished in 1957 for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. While the parkway is a marvel in engineering, the area it covers also serves as a recreational locale for biking, fishing, and hiking.

The images in Postcard History Series: US Highway 1 in Virginia are representative of the nearly 200 miles of this historic highway and the communities along and near its path. Most of these pictorial memories are at least 50 years old, back when motorists were well acquainted with hand-pumping filling stations, mom-and-pop diners, and numerous tourist homes and cabins. In 1927, Route 1 became all concrete between Washington, DC, and Richmond. Business flourished until the interstate highway system came into being in the 1950s. There is much history surrounding US 1, often called America's Main Street.