Pictures from Virginia

Virginia is the state where we have spent most time. Dortes brother and his wife were stationed here for four years, and both before and during their visit, we visited the state. From the areas around Washington DC in the east to the Blue Ridge Mountains and on to West Virginia in the west, from Maryland in the north and to North Carolina and Tennessee in the south, we have traveled through the state. This page contains images from both Virginia and Washington DC.

Click on a picture for full size.

	Let me start the picture show in Washington DC with the most washingtonian, I can imagine. The White House, since 1800 home of the President of the United States.
	Equally known is the government building, The Capitol, close to the White House. Capitol is the city's very center, and all streets are numbered starting at The Capitol. The pictures shows the Capitol as seen from The Mall and it is actually the backside of the building
	From the Capitol to the Washington Monument, Washington's highest monument stretches a park, the National Mall. The park continues on the other side of the monument.
	Off the Washington Monument is the "lock keepers house", the only reminder thats left of the time when The Mall was part of the Potomac River canal system.
	On the other side of the Washington Monument The Mall continues down to the Lincoln Memorial on the banks of the Potomac River. In this part of the park, which actually is called Constitution Gardens, is the "Reflecting Pool", where Tom Hanks kisses  Robin Wright Penn in the movie Forrest Gump
	On the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King made his famous "I have a dream" speech in 1963.
	Inside the "Greek temple" with the 36 pillars around, is a several feet tall statue of Abraham Lincoln. On the walls are copies of some of his speeches, including the famous "Gettysburg Address" from 1863.
	Not far from the Lincoln Memorial is the Korean War Veterans Memorial
	On the other side of the Potomac in Virginia, lies the district of Arlington, who is best known for its national cemetery and the Pentagon.
	The cemetery is on land that until the outbreak of the American Civil War, belonged to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. His home was Arlington House, which today serves as a Robert E. Lee Museum.
	From the hill where the Arlington House is located, is a magnificent view of Washington. Especially in clear weather!
	One of the most famous graves in the cemetery is the "Tomb of The Unknown", where unknown soldiers from several wars are buried.
	Besides "The Tomb of the Unknown", the most famous gravesite in Arlington is probably the one where former President John F. Kennedy is buried (left). The tomb on he right belongs to his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis.
	Not far south of Washington you can visit the Mount Vernon plantation. This was the home of George Washington, 1st president of the United States.
	Washington and his wife Martha are buried in a crypt in the garden along with several other family members.
	A few miles north of Washington you can visit the Potomac River's largest waterfall, Great Falls.
	The falls consists of a number of smaller falls, each of which is not especially high. After the falls the river runs into a very narrow gap, Mather Gorge.
	To make it possible to transport freight in barges, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, was constructed. The canal follows the Potomac. Large quantities of goods could be transported in barges pulled by mules. Today tourists are the only goods being transported on the canal.
	Many places in Virginia wine are grown and produced . Some of it is even very good, but most is sold locally an definately not used for exportation. Here a vineyard near the town of Hillsboro in northern Virginia.
	Through the western part of the State extends "The Valley of Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, or simply The Valley. The pictures show the view of the Shenandoah Valley from Skyline Drive.
	In the mountains surrounding the Shenandoah Valley are a number of caves, among these the Luray Caverns.
	The caverns also houses an underground lake, where stalactites are reflected in the water, and a cave with the famous "stalactite organ".
	Blue Ridge Mountains range is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The range stretches from South Carolina in the south to New York in the north. This picture is taken around Charlottesville, Virginia.
	From Blue Ridge Parkway you have a great view of the countryside in front of the mountains.
	Here, in the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains, you will find one of the "seven wonders of nature, namely the Natural Bridge.
	Not far from Natural Bridge, on the other side of the mountains, is the city of Lexington. In the house in the picture lived the famous Confederate general Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson from 1851 to 1861. Today the house is a Stonewall museum.
	All the time Jackson lived in the house, he taught at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Here at VMI is the gravesite of Stonewall Jackson's horse, Little Sorrel.
	VMI's neighbor is another major ecucational institution, The Washington and Lee University, where Robert E. Lee was headmaster from 1865 until his death in 1870.
	In a chapel at the University Robert E. Lee is buried in the crypt along with many other members of the Lee family. His monument in the picture is in the hall above the crypt. Right outside the chapel Lee's horse, Traveler is buried.
	At the opposite end of town, at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Stonewall Jackson, his wife and daughter are buried.
	Stonewall Jackson was hit by friendly fire after the victory at Chancellorsville in May 1863. He died on May 10th, after having his left arm amputated. The pictures is from somewhere on the battlefield.
	Also in the southern part of the state they grow wine. This is Valhalla Winery, located on a mountain top, 1,800 feet above the city of Roanoke.
	It gives a good view over the valley. Unfortunately, it poured down when we visited the place so we coundn't see much of the view.
	Even as far north as Virginia the kudzu plant has spread. Although it is beautiful, it is an invasive plant, which suffocates the natural vegetation and can grow on almost anything.
	The small town of Manassas Junction became the site of the first major battle of the civil war. Near  the old stone bridge that still stands, some of the toughest fighting took place.
	It was in this battle, 1st Manassas or 1st Bull Run as the battle is known, that Thomas Jackson had earned his nickname. The statue has the inscription "There stands Jackson like a Stonewall" which were the words of Gen. Barnard Bee, who nicknamed him.

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