Lynchburg - The History Of
Originating as a ferry station along the Fluvanna (now called the James) River in 1757, Lynchburg has grown into a relatively small city of approximately fifty square miles and 68,000 residents. Lynchburg enjoys all of the seasons; with February the coldest month, averaging 35 degrees, and July the warmest month, averaging 75 degrees, there are wonderful activities for visitors to do all year long.
To get a taste of Lynchburg’s history, a stop in the historic Sandusky home, now operating as the Civil War Museum. Sandusky was Major George Christian Hutter’s private Federal-style home, which was commandeered by the Union army in 1864, during the Battle of Lynchburg. During this short period, the home suffered a hole cut in the ceiling for a “lookout.” In 1952, Sandusky was purchased by the Adkinson family for restoration. In 2000, the Adkinson family sold it to the Sandusky Foundation, which has opened it as a museum to the public.
Another surprisingly interesting visit to absorb Lynchburg’s history is the Old City Cemetery, a Virginia Historic Landmark and home to many of Lynchburg’s founding mothers and fathers and more famous residents. The cemetery operates five “house” museums, including: the chapel and columbarium, honoring religious leaders; the pest house medical museum, a restored historic building; the hearse house and caretakers’ museum, displaying turn-of-the-century tools of the trade; the station house museum, a reconstruction of the C&O railway station; and the mourning museum, exhibiting 19th and 20th century mourning customs. The Old City Cemetery offers two guided tours, one explaining the history and the other explaining the horticulture. Among the points of interest explained in the history tour include the cemetery’s ironwork and gravestones, the Confederate section, the five museums, and the famous cemetery residents. Some points of interest explained in the horticulture tour include their antique roses, butterfly garden, bird, trees, and the bees and the beekeeper.
Today, visitors can tour Thomas Jefferson’s home, Poplar Forest, which he constructed in 1806 as a retreat from visitors at his Monticello home three for four times a year for an extended period of time. Inside the stately, octagonal brick home, visitors can glimpse life as it was—for both the privileged Jefferson family and guests, and the slaves who worked the home and property—in the 1800s at Poplar Forest and even learn about constructing homes without the use of machines we have today. In addition, guided tours can teach visitors about typical Jeffersonian architecture, his designs for the garden and property, and the history of the home. Poplar Forest is open to the public from November through April everyday except Tuesdays.
Another historic home of note is Dr. George Cabell’s Point of Honor. Dr. Cabell was a prestigious Lynchburg resident, friend of Thomas Jefferson, and doctor to Patrick Henry. His home was built in 1815 and stands as an example of Federal style architecture. Both interior and exterior architecture, antique furniture in the seven rooms, painted wall murals, and demonstrations of life in the 19th century will fascinate visitors. From Dr. Cabell, the home passed to many more important figures in Virginian and American history, finally landing in the hands of restorers in the 1970s.
Jumping into closer to the present day, visitors will be interested in the National D-Day Memorial. The National Memorial is located in Bedford, Virginia because Bedford was the town that suffered the most per-capita deaths in D-Day throughout the country. The memorial spreads throughout nine acres, maintaining three plazas telling the story of D-Day, from occurrences in England leading up to the D-Day order, through the American troops landing and fighting, to Allied victory. The Memorial also consists of a beautiful English garden, forty-four foot tall victory arch, and stylized landing seen in front of an invasion tableau. President George Bush spoke at the memorial’s dedication on June 6, 2001.
Lynchburg may not be a large city, but it is overflowing with opportunities to learn about the town, the region of central Virginia, and the country as a whole’s history. In addition, you won’t find overpriced lodging in Lynchburg.
Lynchburg - The History Of
To get a taste of Lynchburg’s history, a stop in the historic Sandusky home, now operating as the Civil War Museum. Sandusky was Major George Christian Hutter’s private Federal-style home, which was commandeered by the Union army in 1864, during the Battle of Lynchburg. During this short period, the home suffered a hole cut in the ceiling for a “lookout.” In 1952, Sandusky was purchased by the Adkinson family for restoration. In 2000, the Adkinson family sold it to the Sandusky Foundation, which has opened it as a museum to the public.
Another surprisingly interesting visit to absorb Lynchburg’s history is the Old City Cemetery, a Virginia Historic Landmark and home to many of Lynchburg’s founding mothers and fathers and more famous residents. The cemetery operates five “house” museums, including: the chapel and columbarium, honoring religious leaders; the pest house medical museum, a restored historic building; the hearse house and caretakers’ museum, displaying turn-of-the-century tools of the trade; the station house museum, a reconstruction of the C&O railway station; and the mourning museum, exhibiting 19th and 20th century mourning customs. The Old City Cemetery offers two guided tours, one explaining the history and the other explaining the horticulture. Among the points of interest explained in the history tour include the cemetery’s ironwork and gravestones, the Confederate section, the five museums, and the famous cemetery residents. Some points of interest explained in the horticulture tour include their antique roses, butterfly garden, bird, trees, and the bees and the beekeeper.
Today, visitors can tour Thomas Jefferson’s home, Poplar Forest, which he constructed in 1806 as a retreat from visitors at his Monticello home three for four times a year for an extended period of time. Inside the stately, octagonal brick home, visitors can glimpse life as it was—for both the privileged Jefferson family and guests, and the slaves who worked the home and property—in the 1800s at Poplar Forest and even learn about constructing homes without the use of machines we have today. In addition, guided tours can teach visitors about typical Jeffersonian architecture, his designs for the garden and property, and the history of the home. Poplar Forest is open to the public from November through April everyday except Tuesdays.
Another historic home of note is Dr. George Cabell’s Point of Honor. Dr. Cabell was a prestigious Lynchburg resident, friend of Thomas Jefferson, and doctor to Patrick Henry. His home was built in 1815 and stands as an example of Federal style architecture. Both interior and exterior architecture, antique furniture in the seven rooms, painted wall murals, and demonstrations of life in the 19th century will fascinate visitors. From Dr. Cabell, the home passed to many more important figures in Virginian and American history, finally landing in the hands of restorers in the 1970s.
Jumping into closer to the present day, visitors will be interested in the National D-Day Memorial. The National Memorial is located in Bedford, Virginia because Bedford was the town that suffered the most per-capita deaths in D-Day throughout the country. The memorial spreads throughout nine acres, maintaining three plazas telling the story of D-Day, from occurrences in England leading up to the D-Day order, through the American troops landing and fighting, to Allied victory. The Memorial also consists of a beautiful English garden, forty-four foot tall victory arch, and stylized landing seen in front of an invasion tableau. President George Bush spoke at the memorial’s dedication on June 6, 2001.
Lynchburg may not be a large city, but it is overflowing with opportunities to learn about the town, the region of central Virginia, and the country as a whole’s history. In addition, you won’t find overpriced lodging in Lynchburg.
Lynchburg - The History Of
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