History

Williamsburg Archaeologists Uncover Secret Garden

In Colonial America, a grand garden was the ultimate status symbol—the 18th century equivalent of a Lamborghini. So when archaeologists at Colonial Williamsburg uncovered John Custis IV’s property, they struck horticultural gold: the remains of a football field-sized garden alongside his Jacobean manor house. Custis, a tobacco magnate and Martha Washington’s first father-in-law, went all […]

by Madeline Mayhood

How to Craft a Colonial Apple Pie

Put a crust in the bottom of a dish, put on it a layer of ripe apples, pared and sliced thin—then a layer of powdered sugar; do this alternately till the dish is full; put in a few tea-spoonsful of rose water and some cloves—put on a crust and bake it. *This colonial recipe appear […]

by Madeline Mayhood

A Colonial Salad Dressing That Will Revolutionize Your Cooking

Dress a Salad To have this delicate dish in perfection, the lettuce, pepper grass, chervil, cress, & should be gathered early in the morning, nicely picked, washed, and laid in cold water, which will be improved by adding ice; just before dinner is ready to be served, drain the water from your salad, cut it […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Out & About Tazewell

SHOP Appa Bagworks: Hand-crafted leather products like cross-bodies, totes, and shoulder bags. Owner Tanner Hale learned the art from his granddad. 145 Main St. Facebook: AppaBagworks Between Friends: Shop for locally made goods like wood carvings, artwork, jewelry, and bright quilts. 293 Main St. Facebook: BetweenFriendGifts Burke’s Garden Artisans Guild:Showcasing regional artisans and featuring the […]

by Amy Brecount White

Cooking Like the Colonists with Rebecca Suerdieck

If you’ve ever wondered what it means to live to work, you need to know Rebecca Suerdieck. Her business card is humble—historian and educator provide a few hints—but the wattage of her smile gives it all away. This is a woman who absolutely loves what she does. Suerdieck grew up in Colonial Williamsburg, where her […]

by Madeline Mayhood

The Virginia House-Wife Celebrates 200 Years

From the nuances of frying veals’ feet to how to dress a lamb’s head, Mary Randolph was the 19th-century’s answer to Ina Garten. Generally considered the country’s first cookbook author, she wrote the wildly popular The Virginia House-Wife in 1824, which enjoyed brisk sales and 19 printings until the outbreak of the Civil War. To […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Mount Vernon’s Aladdin: The Christmas Camel

Mount Vernon makes merry with a quirky guest and colonial charm. Long before karaoke machines and Guitar Hero were party staples, our nation’s founding fathers had to get creative when entertaining their guests. George Washington is a case in point, paying precisely 18 shillings in 1787 to bring a camel to his home along the […]

by Hope Cartwright

Christmas in Eastern Virginia

Merry Christmas, Colonial Williamsburg! Historic Holidays. Wood smoke rises on street corners as fires blaze in cressets—an early form of street lighting and reminiscent of super-sized torches. A heavenly cinnamon-apple scent wafts by—it’s hot cider and just what you need to warm your bones on a cold December night. Soon the Fife and Drum Corps […]

by peggy sijswerda

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust—An Evening at River Farm

ALEXANDRIA The sun glistened on the Potomac River as the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) kicked off its annual gala at River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, in Alexandria. “It was a fitting location given NVCT’s leadership of the Save River Farm committee in 2021, a success story the organization is tremendously […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Virginia Falconers Preserve an Ancient Sport

On a chilly January morning, Jacob Roberts steps into the woods off a country road outside Harrisonburg and begins hitting brush with a long stick. “Ho, ho, ho,” he yells, and a moment later he gets a response. A squirrel jumps from the growth and darts into the snow-covered forest. Athena, Roberts’ red-tailed hawk perched […]

by Larry Bleiberg

An 18th-Century Treasure in the Eastern Shore

Synchronicity, magic, and talent helped Carrie the Clock come to life. “What’s going on with that clock?” one member of The Woman’s Club of Accomack County asked fellow member Annemarie Edgar one early autumn day in 2022. The piece had been overlooked in a corner of the group’s Carrie Watson Clubhouse in Onley for as […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

The Haunting Virginia Photography of John Plashal

The history of a place isn’t just about what’s documented in books and on display in museums. Another world is often overlooked— throughout the urban and rural landscapes, in towns, cities, and neighborhoods. They’re the churches and homes, the town halls and schools, once epicenters of family and community life all over the Commonwealth, that […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Virginia Remains On Top

Read on for some of the ways Virginia is ranked tops: Our college life USA Today rated Charlottesville and Williamsburg as two of the best small college towns in the nation thanks to their rich history, beautiful scenery, and fun daily life. Our beer Staunton has the 10th best small town beer scene, according to […]

by Katie Farthing

Peace Piece

Colonial Williamsburg acquires an “incredibly rare” Native American peace medal. (Courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) By the time George Washington assumed the Presidency in 1798, “peace medals”—made of silver and engraved by hand—had become valuable diplomatic currency. Presented by the colonists to Native American tribal leaders during treaty signings and other ceremonial events, […]

by Markus Schmidt

Flying Air Circus brings aviation and aerobatics to life

–By Orrin Konheim On paper, the Flying Air Circus is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to promoting and preserving historical aviation. But few organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting aviation put on such a spectacular show. The Flying Air Circus, founded in 1971, has been continuously operating for 53 seasons, making it the longest-running show of […]

by Staff

Secret Love Leters

For 25 years, Scribner’s editor Maxwell Perkins sent them to Welbourne, a Middleburg estate. At the epicenter of hunt country, Welbourne holds stories of horses, royals, and a secret literary romance. Built in 1750, the Middleburg estate became the home to Colonel Richard Henry Dulany, who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. […]

by John William Van de Kamp

Flourish in Full Bloom

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden marks 40 years with four extraordinary exhibits open through October. Natural Connection, Sensory Garden By Elizabeth Fogel, Associate Director Of Horticulture Find the plants that make our lives possible—from the food we eat to the clothes we wear—in the Sensory Garden. Then, explore the bustling Children’s Garden, where okra, cotton, pineapple, […]

by Hope Cartwright

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Turns 40!

From humble beginnings to world-class status, LGBG celebrates a flourishing legacy. If you remember Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (LGBG) in its early days, you’ll recall it was often referred to as Bloemendaal, Dutch for “valley of flowers.” It opened to the public in 1987, and the entrance to Richmond’s newly minted jewel was a modest […]

by Hope Cartwright

Digging Deep

Chesterfield County coal was a hot commodity in the 1700s and 1800s.

by jones clarke c.

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A New Experience at the Virginia Scenic Railway

Virginia Scenic Railway Adds Dome Car for Spectacular Valley Views The popular Virginia Scenic Railway just upped its game with a vintage dome car offering breathtaking 360° views of the Shenandoah Valley. The “Shenandoah”—built in 1948 as the “Silver Palace” for the California Zephyr—now gives passengers an unmatched vantage point on three-hour excursions from Staunton. […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

Nikki Bettis stood on the jagged summit outcrop of Shenandoah National Park’s 4,011-foot Stony Man, awed by westward panoramic views. Her heart swelled with emotion as she turned to watch her 13 kids shoulder their loaded backpacks and fall into a clamorous single-file line heading back to the Appalachian Trail (AT). “We were in an […]

by Eric J. Wallace

World’s First Grid-scale Nuclear Fusion Plant in Chesterfield

Chesterfield is making history as the future site of the world’s first grid-scale commercial nuclear fusion* power plant, with a goal of delivering power in the early 2030s. Commonwealth Fusion System (CFS), a spin-off of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will independently finance, build, own, and operate the facility at the James River Industrial Park. […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

History

Williamsburg Archaeologists Uncover Secret Garden

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A New Experience at the Virginia Scenic Railway

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

World’s First Grid-scale Nuclear Fusion Plant in Chesterfield

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