New Market Battlefield Museum

Right off it is important to point out that these photographs were NOT taken at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War which is just down the road from this museum.  Rather, this is a privately owned museum, culmination of decades of collecting historical American artifacts that are displayed for viewing for a small price.  Photography is allowed and, if the museum is not crowded, you can use a tripod.

It was raining lightly as we arrived with a dark gray sky.

Really not a duplicate of the image above.  Close, but . . .

Shown is the Waist Coat worn by John Floyd while Governor of Virginia, 1830-1834.  He was the father of John Buchanan Floyd who was the 31st Virginia Governor between 1849 and 1852.

Look at the description for Martha Washington's watch.  Pretty cool.

This is a Dragoon Helmet worn by enlisted men of the United States Light Dragoons, Circa 1812.  The jacked black leather cap was reinforced by iron straps.  The white crest is made of horsehair.

This is the Revolutionary War Uniform Coat of John Dunwoody, born in 1737.  He was a teacher in Pennsylvania before joining the war.  He wore this uniform while serving with General Washington during the Delaware River crossing on December 25, 1776, during the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776 and in the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777 and other battles.  He married Susan Crestwell and was the father of 8 children.  One of his great-great-great grandaughters married Theodore Roosevelt.

This is a tricorn hat, a civilian hat pattern popular in the 1750s and 60s.  This style hat was still worn by many American Militiamen during the American Revolution.

"Appomattox" by John Elder, an 1880 oil painting signed and dated by the artist.  It is a compelling portrait of a Confederate soldier following the surrender of General Lee.  The soldier is portrayed with arms crossed and head slightly bowed, with downcast eyes - typifying the blend of defiance and sorrow felt after the surrender.

We could have spent many more hours taking in the many exhibits.  I have a hundred plus more photographs that I am not posting!  If you are ever in the New Market area please do check this place out as well as the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.  If possible, check out for dates when re-enactments of the New Market Battle will take place.  It was one of the first battles of the 1864 Valley Campaign when Grant ordered that the Shenandoah Valley be cleared and it crops burned!  It is reputed to be excellent.  Finally, there is a great emotional impact of the history lesson when surrounded by photographs of people, ordinary soldiers, and the items used during an important period of our national history.  It is sobering

Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is one of the oldest geologic features on the East Coast.  Its limestone base is composed of compressed remains of of organisms that lived in the oceans nearly 500 million years ago.  The bridge was part of an underground cave system when the James River was formed nearly 200 million years ago.  As the water of the river changed course over time, the cave collapsed, leaving only the thickest part of the ceiling.  The first survey of the area was done by Peter Jefferson in 1750.  It is 215 feet tall, 40-50 feet thick, has a 100 foot span and is 90 feet wide.  Thomas Jefferson heard stories abut the bridge from his uncle, Peter, and visited the area in his 20s.  He purchased the 157 acres that included the Bridge from King George III on July 5th, 1774 for 20 schillings.  Over the years the property has numerous owners.  It became a Virginia State Park in 2016.

According to legend, a youthful George Washington (1750) was hired by Lord Fairfax to assist him in surveying the acreage surrounding Natural Bridge.  While there, story has it, George Washington scaled 23 feet up the wall and carved his initial in the stone.

This is the entry into the Monacan Living History Exhibit.  It is a recreation of what a small community would have looked like in 1699.

This is the inside of the 'long house' which was used as a gathering place for the leaders of different communities to come together.

There were interpreters, Monacan I believe, who were there to answer questions and display their traditional items.

There was not a lot of water flowing down Cedar Creek.

The Lace Waterfall is at the end of the trail.  It is almost a mile from the entrance.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles along the crests of the southern Apalachian Mountains.  It is the link between the Shenandoah and Great Smokey Mountains National Parks.  We did not drive the whole distance.  We left some for next time!

This is classic Blue Ridge Mountains!!  Ridges and ridges behind ridges!  All of them seem to have the blue hue and most often they appear as hazy.

Taken at the Rockfish Valley Viewpoint.

This structure was built against the hillside where it served as a root cellar, a storehouse for vegetables and fruits with smoked and cured meat hanging from tho rafters.

This was the primitive 'refrigerator'.  Called a spring house, it was built over a small spring (still running) and was used to keep eggs, milk and butter cool and fresh. 

There was a real garden on this site.  Someone was taking very good care of it.

Well, we saw lots of stone walls, especially along the view points.  But, I could not tell just what walls this sign was addressing!

We saw these butterflies at several stops.  We see them in butterfly exhibits, but seldom can you catch them with their wings open like this.

These are the same butterflies as above.  It appeared that they were attracted to something that had been spilled on the pavement.

Sometimes we would pull into a view point and ask ourselves, "Didn't we just see this?"

Rock Point Overlook. 

Same view point but looking in the other direction (south).

Raven's Roost Overlook.

Tell tale sign of rock climbing going on.  Sure enough, while we were there a rock climber drove up and was excited to join a group already climbing.

Taken at Three Ridges Mountain Viewpoint.

Well, I could not see a cliff anywhere.  Perhaps I was standing on it!!

Wow, green almost all the way down!!  How did that happen?  This is one where I could sing, "On a clear day, you can see forever!"

Taken at the Big Spy Mountain overlook.  I spied a lot of flowers!!

Taken at Chimney Rock Overlook.

Great long lens shot of the valley below the ridge.

In some of the wider areas there are people that may still be farming.

Tom was capturing our drive from the passenger's seat.

This was a lovely drive.  We plan to return and photograph more of the Parkway south of where we stopped.