Welcome to VIRGINIA!

Capital City: Richmond

virginia flag — © Viktorcvetkovic from Getty Images via Canva.com

Twenty-One Steps – Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

by Jeff Gottesfeld; Illustrated by Matt Tavares (ages 7-10)

World Classroom: Virginia

With so many interesting locations to visit in Virginia it will be hard to choose which one to see next. Here are some of the interesting places to see and learn more about here. Did you know Virginia’s land suffered the most battles during the Civil War? There is so much history here as well as beautiful nature to enjoy. We’ve included links to parks and sites managed by the National Parks Service to assist in your visit and search. Virginia is the only state that boasts a national park dedicated specifically to the performing arts. Click the link for up-to-date shows and experiences. Whether you visit virtually or in person, we are sure you’re going to fall in love with Virginia!

National Parks

Virginia is such a beautiful state and home to three National Parks full of nature with trails, waterfalls, views and animals.

Great Falls Park – Great Falls, VA

Visit Great Falls Park NPS.gov

VA Great Falls NPS public domain 2 — NPS

Prince William Forest Park – Triangle, VA

Visit Prince William Forest Park NPS.gov

Did you know this park used to be a training area for spies? Today young people ages 9-12 can participate in the free 3-day Spy Camp program, but space is limited and camps fill fast, so apply early. What a cool park!

You’ll also love this park for all the beautiful nature and things to do. Check out the Junior Ranger Program and click the link above for more up-to-date information and pictures.

VA Prince Wlm Forest Park NPS - Laurel Loop Bridge - public domain — NPS – Laurel Loop Bridge

VA Prince Wlm Forest Park NPS - Breckenridge - public domain — NPS – Breckenridge in the Fall

VA Prince Wlm Forest Park NPS - Eugene Kobayashi - public domain — NPS/Eugene Kobayashi

Photo captured on May 19, 2022 at Prince William Forest Park near Triangle, Virginia for the purpose of documenting place asset pins for the website/app. Photo by NPS / Claire Hassler — NPS/ Claire Hassler

Photo captured on April 8, 2022 at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia. Photo by NPS / Claire Hassler — NPS/Claire Hassler

Shenandoah National Park – Luray, VA

Visit Shendandoah National Park NPS.gov

VA Shenandoah NPS Neal Lewis - North Marshal - public domain — NPS/Neal Lewis – North Marshal

VA Shenandoah NPS Neal Lewis - Northern Parula - public domain — NPS/Neal Lewis

VA Shenandoah NPS Neal Lewis - Dark Hollow Falls - public domain — NPS/Neal Lewis – Dark Hollow Falls

VA Shenandoah NPS Neal Lewis - Hazel Mtn Overlook - public domain — NPS/Neal Lewis – Hazel Mountain Overlook

National Park for the Performing Arts

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts – Vienna, VA (the only NP dedicated to the performing arts)

Visit Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts NPS.gov

National Historical, Battlefield & Military Parks

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park – Appomattox, VA

Visit Appomattox Court House Historical Park NPS.gov

VA Appomattox Historical Courthouse NPS - public domain — NPS – Appomattox Historical Court House

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park – Middletown, VA

Visit Cedar Creek & Belle Grove Historical Park NPS.gov

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park in Virginia — NPS/Victoria Staffenberg

Rich in history, the Shenandoah Valley is must see for anyone interested in Civil War archives. This area was the location for pivotal battles during the tensions of the Civil War. You’ll also learn about Native American history, the early European settlers and more.

VA Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NPS Ann & Rob Simpson - valley scene - public domain — NPS/Ann & Rob Simpson

VA Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NPS Ann & Rob Simpson - public domain — NPS/Ann & Rob Simpson

Colonial National Historical Park – Yorktown, VA

Visit Colonial Historical Park NPS.gov

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park – Fredericksburg, VA

Visit Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Parks NPS.gov

Fredericksburg National Cemetery on sunny fall day. — NPS/Mary O’Neill – Fredericksburg Cemetery

Fredericksburg National Cemetery on sunny fall day with Humphreys Monument. — NPS/Mary O’Neill – Humphrey’s Monument

Manassas National Battlefield Park – Manassas, VA

Visit Manassasy Ntnl Battlefield Park NPS.gov

Richmond National Battlefield Park – Richmond, VA

Visit Richmond Ntnl Battlefield Park NPS.gov

VA Richmond Ntl Battlefield Park NPS - Drewrys Bluff - public domain — NPS – Drewry’s Bluff

VA Richmond Ntl Battlefield Park NPS - James River - public domain — NPS – James River

National Historic Sites & Battlefield

Jamestown National Historical Site – Jamestown, VA

Visit Jamestown Historic Site NPS.gov

Visit this historical town and appreciate the nature and history!

VA Jamestown Ntnl Hist Site - long bridge view - NPS — NPS

VA Jamestown Ntnl Hist Site - foot path - NPS — NPS

VA Jamestown - colonial highway sign - NPS — NPS

VA Jamestown - Ambler Mansion - NPS — NPS

Maggie L Walker National Historical Site – Richmond, VA

Visit Maggie L Walkder Ntnl Historic Site NPS.gov

Why would we want to remember Maggie Walker? Maggie Walker was influential during the Jim Crow Era helping the advancement of civil rights and economic and educational opportunities for African Americans and women.

Petersburg, National Battlefield – Petersburg, VA

Visit Petersburg Ntnl Battlefield NPS.gov

National Memorials & Parkway

Arlington House, The Robert E Lee Memorial – Arlington, VA

Visit Arlington House, The Robert E Lee Memorial NPS.gov

Other Places to See in Arlington, VA

Arlington National Cemetery & The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Reverence
– Respect
– Gratitude

VA tomb of unknown soldier - Cebolla4 from Getty Images Signature via Canva — © Cebolla4 from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com

VA Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Bruno Coelho from Bruno Coelho via Canva — © Bruno Coelho from Bruno Coelho via Canva.com

Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac – Arlington, VA (DC area)

Visit LBJ Memorial Grove NPS.gov

George Washington Memorial Parkway – (MD & VA) McLean, VA

Visit George Washington Memorial Parkway NPS.gov

VA George Wash Prkwy Marine Corps War Mem - NPS Rachel Hendrix — NPS/Rachel Hendrix

US Marine Corps War Memorial inspired by the 1945 photo of servicemen raising the American flag in Iwo Jima in 1945.

Monuments

Booker T Washington National Monument – Hardy, VA

Visit Booker T Washington Memorial NPS.gov

Booker T Washington Everett Collection from Canva — © The Everett Collection via Canva

Fort Monroe National Monument – Fort Monroe, VA

Visit Fort Monroe Ntnl Monument NPS.gov

George Washington Birthplace National Monument – Washington’s Birthplace, VA

Visit George Washington Birthplace Ntnl Monument NPS.gov

VA George Wash birthplace monument NPS 2 - public domain — NPS

VA George Wash birthplace monument NPS - public domain — NPS

National Seashore & Island

Assateague Island National Seashore (MD & VA) Berlin, MD

Visit Assateague Island Seashore NPS.gov

This national seashore has a beautiful beach rich in wildlife including horses! It’s a great way to enjoy the eastern coastline. Come camp, light a beach fire and roast marshmallows . . . ride a horse or bike along the beach.