Heading West through Virginia

We began our day at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park about an hour southwest of Charlottesville, Virginia. This site was made famous as the town where the Confederate army, under General Robert E. Lee, surrendered to Union Commander Ulysses S. Grant.

The actual meeting to surrender took place in the McLean House, one of the best homes in Appomattox. The reconstructed McLean House is next to the Court House, for which the park is named. Today the Court House holds the park’s Visitor Center and a small theater. A very informative video is shown about the events at the end of the war and the how the terms of surrender came about after a meeting between Ulysses Grant, President Lincoln and several others.

It was pretty incredible to stand in the same room after seeing pictures of this event in history books.

You can also tour the rest of the house and the grounds around the town.

Bedroom and family room (where family gathered most often)

Slave quarters (white building) and outhouse (small brown building) behind the McLean House

We were told to watch our head when going down the stairs. Building codes were a bit different back then.

There are quite a few original and reconstructed buildings here.

About an hour southwest of Appomattox is the Booker T. Washington National Monument. “Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on this 200-acre tobacco farm. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and later became an important and controversial African-American leader.” – National Park Service (NPS)

“This park preserves portions of the 207-acre (0.90 km²) tobacco farm on which Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856.“ – NPS

The tobacco farm where Booker T. Washington was born

The home in which Booker lived with his mother, brother, sister and uncle.

The foundation Stones are all that’s left of the building where Booker and the other slaves first learned of their freedom

Inside the home. Booker, his sister and brother slept on a pile of rags on the floor.

Booker T. Washington went on to be an educator, author, orator, and advisor to presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American community.

We ended our day by catching up with old friends.

Thanks Mike and Tanya – you were great hosts!

Over the weekend we joined Mike and Tanya, and several of their friends, at the 31st Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival. We read that this event can draw huge crowds of around 11,000, and we believe it. This event was crowded but everyone was super friendly and happy to be there.