“Do Not Touch” signs have their place, but oh, how we relish those spaces that allow us to touch and become intimately connected to the past. Our quest for such places has yielded these EPIC Shenandoah Valley destinations. Add them to your getaway must-see list.
Can you touch a piece of iron in the Blacksmith’s stash at the 1750s Irish Forge? Sure. The wool being spun into yarn at the Irish Farm? Yep. Go ahead and touch the deer hides at the Eastern Woodlands Indian community (1650-1750) while you’re at. There are many buildings at Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton and they’re staffed with costumed interpreters who can tell you about the period, the structure, and most importantly, the people each represents.
Much like the Frontier Culture Museum, the Shenandoah Heritage Village at Luray Caverns in Luray is a walk through history. Explore the buildings that have been saved from destruction thanks to their relocation. Of note is the Hamburg Regular School (1870-1884), one of the oldest one-room African American schoolhouses still surviving in Virginia.
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Also at Luray Caverns is The Stonyman Mining Company Gem Sluice, a cool way for kids to learn a bit about ming and sluicing.
There are several key places for car lovers to get their hands on shiny beauties from the past. Some places may allow you to slip into the driver’s seat while others won’t. Be sure to ask before helping yourself.
You’ll probably stand a little straighter when you find yourself next to the still-operational Pierce-Arrow Limousine at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Museum in Staunton. Complete with the Presidential Seal on each rear door, it’s a sight to behold. It’s said that Wilson was so enamored with the car that it was his choice for presidential travel. To be certain, the 1919 Pierce-Arrow limo is quite different than today’s presidential “Beast” Cadillac limo.
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In Luray at Cooter’s Place, the famed fleet of vehicles from TV’s The Dukes of Hazzard series are on display. Check out Boss Hogg’s Cadillac, Cooter’s tow truck, Sherrif Roscoe P. Coltrane’s car, Daisy’s Jeep, and of course, the iconic orange General Lee.
Also in Luray is the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum at Luray Caverns. Among their prized vehicles is an 1898 Mercedes-Benz, believed to be the oldest displayed operational automobile in the U.S. In total, there are 50 vehicles aged through the 1940s and all of them are in “running condition,” according to the museum.
The Bushong Farm at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market has been well preserved and is the hallowed ground where the May 15, 1864 Battle of New Market was waged. The Bushong House (ca. 1825) became a field hospital during the battle while the family took shelter in the cellar below. The house is being celebrated this year, its bicentennial. Tour the vast grounds on your own or book a guided tour for a detailed, historical accounting of the grounds and events with a museum interpreter.
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Save the Dates:
In Middletown, the immaculate Belle Grove manor house (ca. 1797) was the gemstone of a sprawling 7,500-acre plantation. It remains a jewel and is open to the public. Belle Grove was the home of James Madison’s sister Nelly and her husband Major Isaac Hite, but in addition to that, Belle Grove’s story includes occupation during the Civil War, including during the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864. It is a National Historic Landmark, a Virginia Historic Landmark, and a historic property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Also of Interest:
Header Image: Frontier Culture Museum. By @traveling_newlyweds and courtesy of Virginia is for Lovers.
