Virginia Has 123 National Historic Landmarks… But These 7 Are the Coolest

The United States has a history that is unique and amazing. This vast and diverse country of ours has a rich history where you can still see landmarks that shaped the future of the United States. Every state in the US has historical landmarks that signify so much and contribute to history, the present, and the future.

Alabama has 39 historic landmarks, whereas Oregon has 17 historic landmarks. But what about Virginia? Virginia is known to be the state that has a whopping eight presidents born there. It was one of the original 13 colonies. Virginia is steeped in the rich history of the United States’ founding.

Virginia is home to 123 National Historic Landmarks. And we’re going to highlight seven of the coolest ones to visit. We’ll go more in-depth into each of them and add a few fun facts.

Mount Vernon

The historic home of President George Washington and his wife, Martha, Mount Vernon is a staple in Virginia history. Crucial decisions were made at Mount Vernon. You can visit the grounds and the inside of the house where the Washingtons lived. The house is decorated in the way the Washingtons would have decorated it. Located in Mount Vernon, VA, parties and events are also held on the property. 

Monticello

The historic home of 3rd President Thomas Jefferson, Monticello is a magnificent building with beautiful acreage. Parties and events can be held here, but the grounds and house are also open to visitors. Educational tours are also present year-round. Located in Charlottesville, VA, the house is steeped in the rich history of one of the instrumental people in the founding of America. Monticello also has a team of researchers and historians who work there.

James Monroe Law Office

Virginia is home to the birthplace of eight presidents, so naturally, many of the historic landmarks will be president-related. The James Monroe Law Office is located in Fredericksburg, VA, and it was the principal location for when 5th President James Monroe worked as a lawyer. The law office is open for visits where you can learn about the president’s life and work. 

Virginia State Capitol

Serving as the seat of government for Virginia, the Virginia State Capitol used to be called the Confederate Capitol. Why? Because the building served as the capitol building for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Constructed from 1785 to 1788, you can visit the capitol on tours to witness the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Williamsburg Historic District

The historic district of Williamsburg is 301 acres and it is the world’s largest living US history museum. The historic area has hundreds of buildings that are original and restored or recreated to look like the 18th century.

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia when it was a colony. When you walk through the historic district of Colonial Williamsburg, you will feel like you were transported to the late 1700s when George Washington and Thomas Jefferson existed. It’s quite the experience of a lifetime that you shouldn’t miss.

Alexandria Christ Church

An Episcopal Church located in Alexandria, VA, Christ Church was constructed around the 1780s and served as the main church in the Fairfax Parish (known as Fairfax Church until 1816). Furthermore, many historical and influential people were parishioners of the church including George Washington and Robert E. Lee. To commemorate the World Day of Prayer for Peace in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill attended mass.

Cape Henry Lighthouse

There are two lighthouses at Cape Henry. One was constructed in 1792 and the other one is much newer, built in 1881. Built of Aquia and Rappahannock sandstone, the Cape Henry Lighthouse was damaged by the Confederate military during the Civil War. Ten years later, worried about the conditions of the old lighthouse, it was decided to build another taller one about 350 feet away from the older one. You can visit the grounds and the inside of both lighthouses.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are seven of the coolest national historic landmarks in Virginia to visit. Each of these amazing landmarks represents a time in our nation’s history that shaped the future. If you have the opportunity to go to these landmarks, you can walk through them, and envision those places during the times of the founding fathers. Think about the history that took place there. It is quite fantastic to think about that.