Virginia

Name: Montpelier Transformed
Brand: William H. Lewis
SKU: 9781467151658
Price: 17.99 USD
Availability: InStock

It’s impossible to survey the Virginia landscape without seeing the layers of its history. Civil War battlefields in Virginia lie right next to landmarks of the American Revolution. The Old Dominion state is home to those who declared independence and framed the constitution, as well as the civil rights leaders and suffragists who still had to fight for freedoms withheld. From Richmond’s culinary traditions to the politics of a Middleburg foxhunt, examine the fascinating complexities of Virginia with our Virginia history books. [View all Virginia books]

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Montpelier Transformed

Christmas at Miller & Rhoads

The Jefferson Hotel: The History of a Richmond Landmark

Virginia State Penitentiary

Under the Clock

Montpelier and the Madisons

Tredegar Iron Works:

Hotel Roanoke

Fort Wool

Shockoe Hill Cemetery

The Yorktown Victory Monument

Richmond's Leigh Street Armory & African American Militia

Discovering Richmond Monuments:

Montpelier Transformed

9781467151658

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

By the late 20th century, Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison, had been altered until it would no longer have been recognizable to the couple.

In 2000 the newly-created Montpelier Foundation took over management of the historic home with the seemingly insurmountable task of restoring it to be a visual record of the Madisons' era. Within ten years, the Foundation overcame numerous hurdles, turning Montpelier into a monument to the Father of the Constitution. Over the next decade the site also became a monument to Montpelier's enslaved. The buildings in their community next to the Madisons' home were reconstructed, and award-winning exhibits dramatically illustrate the tragedy of slavery and essential role of enslaved people in Madison's life.

Foundation co-founder William H. Lewis details the nonprofit's ambitious preservation projects and remarkable achievements.

Christmas at Miller & Rhoads

9781596297654

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The Christmas season is a time for traditions and, in Richmond, one particular custom reigned supreme: a family outing to Miller & Rhoadsdepartment store.

A Christmas outing to Miller & Rhoadsdepartment store revealed thousands of smiling faces waiting to enter the kingdom of Santaland- an enchanted world marked by glittering snow and intricate train displays.

From visits to area hospitals to a young man who demanded only a box of raisins, former Snow QueenDonna Strother Deekens shares her touching and humorous holiday memories from her twenty years in the gown. Kids from one to ninety-two will enjoy reminiscing with characters like the elves, Bruce the Spruceand, of course, Miller & Rhoads'legendary real Santa. Discover behind-the-scenes drama and learn firsthand what it was like to partake in this unforgettable event.

The Jefferson Hotel: The History of a Richmond Landmark

9781625859020

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Designed by Richmond visionary Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson Hotel has been an icon in the community since 1895. From the alligators that used to roam the elegant lobby to the speakeasy housed within during Prohibition, the hotel has a fascinating and unparalleled history. Playing host to cultural icons like Charles Lindbergh and F. Scott Fitzgerald and surviving the Great Depression and catastrophic fires, the hotel has remained an important landmark throughout Richmond's history. Join local historian Paul Herbert as he recounts stories of heiresses, actors, musicians and celebrities in this all-encompassing history of The Jefferson, a volume bound to delight anyone who has ever stayed within its treasured walls.

Virginia State Penitentiary

9781467137638

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Thomas Jefferson developed the idea for the Virginia State Penitentiary and set the standard for the future of the American prison system. The prison endured severe overcrowding, three fires, an earthquake and numerous riots.

Vice President Aaron Burr was incarcerated there in 1807 as he awaited trial for treason. More than 240 prisoners were executed there by electric chair. At one time, the ACLU called it the "most shameful prison in America." The institution was plagued by racial injustice, eugenics experiments and the presence of children imprisoned among adults. Join author Dale Brumfield as he charts the 190-year history of the iconic prison.

Under the Clock

9781596295292

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Under the Clock documents the fascinating historical chain of department stores Miller & Rhoads through its many transformations.

Under the Clock tells the story of Miller & Rhoads, from its incarnation as a little dry goods store in 1885 through more than a century as a beloved Richmond landmark. Earle Dunford, longtime city editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and George Bryson, a Miller & Rhoads veteran for thirty-nine years, usher us behind the scenes at the famous department store, sharing anecdotes they have collected from the many devoted shoppers and loyal employees who remember the good old days at Miller & Rhoads. Meet them ""under the clock"" to read about the famous Tea Room, Book and Author Dinners, fashion shows, Sara Sue hats, Christmastime with Santa Claus and countless other memories of a bygone era in shopping.

Montpelier and the Madisons

9781596292772

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

A stately plantation in picturesque Orange County, Virginia, Montpelier has been home to many owners, but the period in which the Madison family occupied it remains the most intriguing. Historian Matthew G. Hyland traces the development of the plantation as it evolved and changed through three generations of Madisons - from beginnings as temporary quarters on the tobacco frontier of Piedmont Virginia to the height of fame as the noteworthy abode of the fourth United States President, James Madison.

The history of the house and its grounds offers a glimpse into the private dilemmas and public struggles that mark the development of democracy and reflect the creation of the United States as a nation. Newly renovated and restored to the era President Madison lived and entertained there, the home stands as a testament to its great proprietor's interests and tastes, and as a witness to American history.

Tredegar Iron Works:

9781467118941

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

One of the most important industrial landmarks in the nation lies in the heart of historic Richmond. The Tredegar Iron Works was the most prodigious ordnance supplier to the Confederacy during the Civil War, as well as an industrial behemoth in its own right. Named for the hometown of the Welsh engineers who built it, Tredegar remained one of Richmond's chief industrial entities for over a century. It produced ordnance during five wars and helped build the railroads that rapidly spread across the nation during the Gilded Age. Author Nathan Vernon Madison, utilizing a wealth of primary sources and firsthand accounts, chronicles the full history of a Richmond industrial icon.

Hotel Roanoke

9781467144834

$29.99 $22.49 Save 25%

The Hotel Roanoke is as old as the city of Roanoke itself. It opened in 1882, when the city became the headquarters for the Norfolk & Western Railway, and signaled the city's progress. It has since survived a devastating fire, the Depression and closure after a century of operation. Thanks to the determination of the leaders of Virginia Tech and the Roanoke Valley, the hotel reopened in 1995. Today, the reimagined Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is once again a symbol of the region's economic vitality. This revised and updated version of Donlan Piedmont's Peanut Soup and Spoonbread: An Informal History of the Hotel Roanoke captures the amazing history of not only a hotel but also the personalities and stories that have made the Hotel Roanoke what it is today--a remarkable blend of century-old tradition and state-of-the-art hospitality.

Fort Wool

9781596295742

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Fort Wool, now a quiet historical landmark, has been witness to some of the most influential figures and events in American history. Originally named for John C. Calhoun, the fortress felt Andrew Jackson walk the ramparts as he retreated from the bustle and politics of Washington, saw Abraham Lincoln direct the shelling and invasion of nearby Norfolk during the Civil War, and guarded one of the country's most important harbors in two world wars. In this volume, J. Michael Cobb, curator of the Hampton History Museum, presents the fascinating tale of presidents and slaves, soldiers, and civilians, all linked by the stone fortress rising from the waters of the Chesapeake. Cobb paints a vivid picture of a landmark that has endured for centuries in the shifting sands, heavy weather, and swift currents of history.

Shockoe Hill Cemetery

9781467118644

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Established in 1822, Shockoe Hill Cemetery is the final resting place for many famous and infamous icons of Richmond. Most visited is the tomb of Chief Justice John Marshall, the longest-serving chief justice of the United States, who elevated the Supreme Court to equal standing with the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Union spy Elizabeth Van Lew operated an extensive espionage ring during the Civil War, and though reviled in life by many who resented her activism, she rests prominently near her elite neighbors. The burial places of friends and foster family offer a glimpse into Edgar Allan Poe's personal story. Author Alyson Lindsey Taylor-White charts the history of the celebrated cemetery and brings to life the stories of those buried there.

The Yorktown Victory Monument

9781467150514

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

In October 1781, American independence was achieved on the battlefields of Yorktown, Virginia--a glorious event that the Continental Congress determined was worthy of a monument. Moving at the speed of government, it took one hundred years to act on this resolution. In that time, Yorktown had to come to terms with its role as a site of preservation rather than a center of industry or commerce. The story of the development and preservation of The Monument to Alliance and Victory at Yorktown is a tangle of government, military, artists, historians and forces of nature. Local author Maria Hepner explores the story of this monument and the town that surrounds it.

Richmond's Leigh Street Armory & African American Militia

9781467139236

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

In 1895, the City of Richmond constructed the magnificent Leigh Street Armory for its African American militia. During Reconstruction, Virginia led the nation in establishing black militia units, and Richmond was the only city to build an armory for that use. These volunteer soldiers drilled and trained there, and many joined other volunteers to serve in the Spanish-American War. In 1899, the Leigh Street Armory ceased to serve its original function and became first a school and ultimately the home of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Authors Roice Luke, Maureen Elgersman Lee and Stacy Burrs reveal the history of the Leigh Street Armory and its soldiers.

Discovering Richmond Monuments:

9781609499488

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

With over 150 monuments, Richmond ranks among the nation's best cities in devotion to its past, its leaders and its famous citizens. But the storied history of Virginia's capital extends far beyond its most famous figures. Whether memorializing the captivating stories of famous Richmonders Nina Abady and Sam Woods, celebrating the life of Bill Bojangles" Robinson or honoring the achievements of prominent medical leaders, public art in Richmond is a testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of the city and its people. Journey into times past with author Robert Layton as he uncovers the enthralling history of Richmond through its often-overlooked monuments."