Where History Comes Alive: A Guide to the Past Right in Our Backyard

For the most immersive pre-colonial experience in the region, visit the reconstructed Monacan Indian Living History Village at Natural Bridge State Park. The Monacan Indian Nation joined with Natural Bridge to construct a living history Native American Village complex where visitors step back in time to see what life would have been in a typical Native American Village in the 17th century, with demonstrations of ancient crafts such as basket weaving, shelter construction, hide tanning, rope making, and pottery making. The towering stone arch itself — considered sacred by the Monacan Tribe — was more than a physical crossing; it was a symbol woven into the tribe’s history and spiritual life. The village is open April through November.

About 45 minutes from Charlottesville, the tribe’s own museum near Bear Mountain tells the Monacan story from their own perspective. In 1995, the Episcopal Diocese returned the land on which the old mission stood, and the site is now the home of the tribe’s museum and cultural center. The original log cabin was restored and, in 1997, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is a quiet, meaningful stop.

Jefferson was the third president of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, and founder of the University of Virginia. Visitors of all ages can tour Monticello to learn about Jefferson’s complex life and legacy. Critically, Monticello’s programming now centers the stories of the more than 600 enslaved people who built and sustained the plantation. This is not a sanitized founder’s shrine — it is a genuinely complex place that rewards thoughtful visitors.

Highland was the official residence of 5th President James Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, from 1799 to 1823. Recent archaeological work at the site has uncovered unexpected new findings, making this an exciting time to visit. It offers a quieter, less crowded complement to Monticello just up the hill.

Montpelier, Orange County — Montpelier offers tours of Madison’s home, lush gardens, and exhibitions highlighting his pivotal role in drafting the U.S. Constitution. Montpelier is also a national leader in centering the stories of the enslaved community. As part of Virginia 250, Montpelier is offering a special Constitution Tour in June 2026 that explores the origins of the Constitution and the legacy it leaves today.

The Rotunda was designed by Thomas Jefferson as the heart of the University of Virginia and its “Academical Village.” Built between 1817 and 1826, these original buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, along with Monticello.

Considered one of the best-preserved 19th-century cities in the United States, Staunton’s historic downtown is a step back in time. The Stonewall Brigade Museum and the Augusta County Historical Society’s History Gallery at the R.R. Smith Center for History and Art on South New Street both offer excellent regional Civil War exhibits.

While not connected to Civil War History, Staunton also is home to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum.

The museum houses the uniform in which Jackson earned his nickname and the uniform he was wearing when he was mortally wounded by his own men. His horse, Little Sorrel, is mounted and on exhibit. The VMI Museum is free and open seven days a week. The Stonewall Jackson House nearby is the only home he ever owned.

A National Historic Landmark, the University Chapel was built in 1868 under the leadership of Robert E. Lee, who served as president of Washington College. The chapel includes a museum with rotating exhibits and features the famous Recumbent Lee statue by Edward Valentine. The Lexington Carriage Company offers horse-drawn tours linking the main Civil War sites in town.

About an hour north of Staunton, on May 11, 1864, more than 250 VMI cadets began a rainy four-day march to New Market, 80 miles north of Lexington. Their objective was to bolster a small Confederate force defending the Shenandoah Valley. Ten cadets lost their lives. The Virginia Museum of the Civil War and self-guided battlefield tour bring the human scale of that day into focus

The Memorial to Enslaved Laborers acknowledges the work and individual lives of the enslaved African Americans who built the University of Virginia and sustained daily life from its founding. An estimated 4,000 enslaved persons worked on the Grounds of UVA between 1817 and 1865. The concentric stone rings are inscribed with names — those that researchers have recovered — and with thousands of memory marks for those whose names remain unknown. Open 24 hours, free of charge.

This self-guided tour features 15 locations documenting the history and individuals within the Black community of Lexington, with the goal of increasing awareness of Black residents who established their own businesses and shaped the community. Pick up the map at the Lexington Visitor Center.