Dear Henry,
I took a little road trip up I-81 to Lexington, Virginia. Let me tell you all about it.
Lexington, Virginia, is a small town sixty miles northeast of Roanoke and also near the Great Wagon Road. The Monacan people originally populated the area, but by the mid-1700s, Euro-American settlers began moving into it.
The town was officially established by the Virginia Assembly in 1775 and named after the Battle of Lexington, one of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is the gateway town to some of the area's natural features, including Horse Mountain, Goshen Pass, and Natural Bridge. This unique geological feature was once a rustic resort of Thomas Jefferson's and was often frequented by the Founding Fathers.
Lexington became the county seat of Rockbridge County in 1777.
Tragedy struck the town in 1796 after a fire, which began at the livery, decimated nearly every log and frame building. The city was subsequently rebuilt with the brick structures you see today.
The streets aren't original, either. The mountains of Virginia have steep hills, and the roads, initially graded dirt and clay, were generally impassible during the winter months. In 1852, the city decided to lower the streets by around 8 to 10 feet and pave them. Many of the area's walk-out basements became the new ground floors of many buildings, and some places required new porches and stairwells to reach their front doors. You can still see, in places, the remnants of old doorways hanging several feet about the walks.
Lexington, Virginia, is also home to two universities: One, Washington and Lee University, is the 9th oldest college in the country. It began in 1749 under the name Augusta Academy. That college Several times before finally moving to Lexington in 1782. In 1796, George Washington gifted the college stock from the James River Canal Company, providing a much-needed financial boost. The college changed its name to Washington after the gift. After the US Civil War, former Confederate General Robert E. Lee became the school president, and his work is what established the successful curriculum of the college today.
The other school is the Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839. It is the oldest state-supported academy in the US. I visited VMI and will tell you all about it in another letter.
By the way, if you see the VMI, you will want to tour the Jackson House Museum. I saw that, too, and I'll tell you about it next time.
Lexington is a great spot to learn about the area's involvement in US Civil War history. General Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson made their homes here, and both are buried in the city's cemetery. Several places throughout the city talk about its history, and the visitor's center has a great map and brochure telling you where to go. I highly recommend picking one up.
The city is also a great place to stay if you enjoy the outdoors in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is close to the trails, fishing, and kayaking of Goshen Pass, Horse Mountain, and Natural Bridge. There are winery tours nearby and top-notch dining in the city.
I enjoyed my time in Lexington and recommend it as a perfect weekend getaway.
xoxo a.d. elliott
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Some thoughts on what history is and how we should tell it. Check that out here: https://adelliott.substack.com/p/thoughts-on-historyThis Week's Military Biographies From Everyday Patriot:
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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller currently living in Salem, Virginia.
In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com
Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com
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