Yorktown Victory Monument Walk Through Living History Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello: Explore Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece and walk the grounds where the author of the Declaration of Independence contemplated liberty. George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Take in the estate of America’s first president and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, absorbing this living museum’s mansion, gardens, and more. You can even pay your respects at his and Martha’s final resting place. James Madison’s Montpelier: Delve into the life of the Father of the Constitution. Montpelier offers tours of Madison’s home, lush gardens, and exhibitions highlighting his pivotal role in drafting the U.S. Constitution. James Monroe’s Highland: Discover the personal and political legacy of James Monroe. The estate offers period reenactments, military history insights, and walking tours. Berkeley Plantation: Step into the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, a Declaration signer, and the ancestral home of President William Henry Harrison, for a rich narrative of Virginia’s revolutionary contributions. HANNAH ARMSTRONG (2) George Mason’s Gunston Hall: Tour the opulent home, with its boldly painted walls and four-poster beds, of the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which inspired America’s Bill of Rights. Stratford Hall: If you time your visit right to the home of Declaration signers (and brothers) Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, you can pair your tour of the house and grounds with a stargazing event or the annual Wine & Oyster Festival held in September. Colonial Williamsburg: Experience 18th-century life with costumed interpreters and hidden gems like the garden of heirloom vegetables at the largest living history museum in the world. Jamestown: Walk the grounds of America’s first permanent English colony with archaeological sites in Historic Jamestowne, then explore the exhibits and reenactments depicting the life of early settlers at Jamestown Settlement. American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: Experience engaging galleries, immersive films, and outdoor living history that tells the full story of America’s fight for independence. Patrick Henry’s Red Hill: Join the archeology team investigating the remains of two cabins in a part of the property known as the Quarter House, where enslaved laborers and their descendants lived and worked. Richmond: In Virginia’s capital city, visit St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry delivered his impactful “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech, and trace the Commonwealth’s history from pre-Colonial times to the present at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest: An octagonal villa with lots of natural light conveys Jefferson’s architectural style. Today, visitors can learn about the enslaved people who lived and worked at Poplar Forest, or they might even find an archaeological dig in progress. James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum Virginia Travel Guide 19
Virginia Travel Guide Virginia Travel Guide 2026: Page 19
