Although Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston in 1809, Richmond was where he grew up, married and first became renown in the literary world. Richmond was his home. He even called himself “a Virginian.” As America’s first writer to attempt to make his living as a fiction writer, the Poe Museum in Richmond is […]
historic houses
Revisiting an Incredible American Castle at Fonthill
One man’s dream home is a great American castle. We don’t have many of those, but this one is what we imagine when we dream of castles. Towers, great halls, a maze of rooms — Fonthill Castle has them all. It all started when he was 13. Henry Mercer accompanied his aunt, who was quite […]
Visiting Mary Washington’s House
George Washington purchased this house for his mother from Micheal Robinson in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1772 for $275. Mary Ball Washington spent her last few years in the white frame house on the corner of Charles and Lewis Street. New evidence indicates that Mary Washington actually lived in a fairly small house. The portion to […]
Biking through Historical Doylestown
There are numerous ways to get a sense of an area. One way to get to know Doylestown a little better is through a bike tour, offered by Encore Rides. During the personally guided tour, we pedaled around scenic Doylestown, the county seat of Bucks County and and a town steeped in history that offers […]
Invitation to Advocacy at the Pearl S Buck Historic House
Pearl S. Buck was a Pulitzer and Nobel Award-winning American author, a humanitarian, and an activist. You may not have read her novels — knowledge of her is fading with the years — but you’ll probably recognize the names of at least one of her works: The Good Earth. Drawing on her childhood spent […]
Maymont Mansion, Richmond’s Gilded Age Spendor
Victorian exuberant excess is on display at the lovely Maymont Mansion, overlooking the James River in Richmond. Originally a 100-acre Victorian estate, Maymont is now a public park, and the mansion a house museum. On the grounds there’s an arboretum, formal gardens, a carriage collection, native wildlife exhibits, a nature center, and a children’s farm. […]
Discover Bucks County with the 24 in 24 Challenge
Little girl jumping rope is a touch of whimsy at the Pearl S Buck House. Bucks County PA is a picturesque county, with lovely farmland, rolling hills, and historic little towns. Numerous historic homes, many dating to the 1700s, dot the countryside. There is so much to see and do in the historic Bucks County! […]
Fredericksburg Overview and Trolley Tour
Big cities have their red buses or their double-decker buses, and some have red double-decker buses, but Fredericksburg has its touring trolley. One of the best ways to get introduced to Fredericksburg is via the downtown trolley tour, which takes you past all the significant sites of Fredericksburg, provides an interesting and informative narrative throughout, […]
9 Great Daytrips for the Under-6 Crowd
If you’re looking for some great daytrip destinations to start your younger kids on a lifetime road to discovery, consider exploring the nine great suggestions below. From living history museums that recreate George Washington’s childhood home to a sail on the Chesapeake Bay in a replica of an historic fishing boat, there’s so much to […]
Ferry Farm: A Living History Museum That’s Great for Kids
“I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree,” George Washington said as a kid, according to Parson Weems, the author of some of the best known stories about Washington’s childhood. Whether he actually chopped the tree down is debatable. But if it HAD happened, it would have happened at Ferry Farm, where […]
24 Things to Do in 24 Hours in Fredericksburg VA
Back in the day — colonial days, that is — Fredericksburg was an important port on the Rappahannock River. At the time, it was at the farthest point navigable by large ships laden with treasured items from Europe and beyond. The city soon became a key trading center for the plantation owners and farmers nearby, […]
First State Heritage Park
The First State Heritage Park at Dover is Delaware’s first urban “park without boundaries,” linking historic and cultural sites in the historic city that has been the seat of state government since 1777. First State Heritage Park includes the Biggs Museum, the John Bell House, the Johnson Victrola Museum, Legislative Hall, the Old State House, […]
Historic Annapolis by Candlelight
Have you ever wondered what those historic homes look like inside? I do! Thus, when I hear of a tour of private residences in a historic city, I leap at the chance to tour them! A home on a previous year’s tour. Photo courtesy VisitAnnapolis.org. Once a year, you get to find out how a […]
Have a Hauntingly Great Time in Lewes DE!
Lewes, DE is rich with historic happenings, legends, and tall-tales, many of them involving a touch of the paranormal. From the founding of Lewes in 1631 and the massacre of its settlement the following year, to the unknown sailors’ cemetery at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, some residents never seem to depart. Lewes is more than […]
Poe House Museum in Baltimore
The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival will take place October 6-7 at Edgar Allan Poe Square/203 North Amity Street, Baltimore. This is exciting to me: Poe was my first favorite author — his dark tales of gothic horror resonated with me at an early age. One of Poe’s most famous poems, “The Raven” (for which […]