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What's up explorers and thanks for tuning in!
This week we explored the state of Virginia, and we can't wait to share with you our Top
10 List of unique places that make Virginia uniquely Virginia.
Now, a couple caveats here - we wanted this list to be budget friendly and something that
could be done in 3 days.
So, all of the places mentioned in this video are completely free, with the exception of
one, and they can all be visited in one full weekend.
I can't wait to share them with you, so make sure you like this video, hit that subscribe
button, and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all of our latest videos!
Starting off our list at number 10 is Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach.
Now, a park named after trash may seem a bit odd at first.
But this beautiful city park isn't just named after trash, it's built out of trash!
640,000 tons of trash to be exact.
Up until 1971, the land that Mt. Trashmore sits on was a city landfill that served local
residents.
Trash was funneled into an open trench at a cost of nearly $80,000 per year and the
waste kept piling higher and higher - so much so that the residents of Virginia Beach jokingly
referred to the site as "Mt. Trashmore."
In the 1960's, the Virginia Department of Health decided to close the landfill and convert
it into a city park - the first of its kind on the East Coast.
The pejorative nickname stuck, and today, Mt. Trashmore features two lakes, walking
trails, a playground and a skate park.
According to city officials, the park draws close to 900,000 visitors per year.
Ever hear of the World's Largest Kugel?
No, we're not talking about a traditional Jewish casserole dish.
It's ok, we hadn't either.
That's why next on our list at number 9 is the Grand Kugel at the Science Museum of Virginia
in Richmond.
"Kugel" is the German word for "ball" or "bullet," and a kugel fountain typically features a
granite sphere in a pedestal that is supported by aquaplaning on a thin film of water.
Pressurized water flowing between the sphere and socket allow the heavy sphere to be moved
rather effortlessly.
The Grand Kugel at the Science Museum of Virginia features a globe weighing 29 tons and has
held the Guinness World Record of being the largest kugel since 2003.
Number 8.
The Markel Building in Richmond.
There's nothing particularly interesting about a commercial office building.
That is unless its design was inspired by a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil.
Yes, architect Haig Jamgochian conceived the idea for the Markel Building when he was served
a baked potato at an American Institute of Architect's dinner.
Jamgochian was commissioned by the Markel Corporation to design their headquarters in
1962 - a time when the futuristic space aesthetic was all the rage.
However, some people feel that the building hasn't aged well.
In 2009, Digital Journal declared the Markel Building to be one of "The World's 10 Ugliest
Buildings," and many locals consider it an eyesore.
Love it or hate it, it truly became one-of-a-kind after the only other building Jamgochian designed
was demolished in 2005.
The Markel Building is now his single existing piece of work.
Up next at number 7 - the Tombstone House of Petersburg, Virginia.
Unless you're the Adams Family, you might not be in the market for a house made out
of tombstones.
However, the fascinating story behind this unique home is rooted in Civil War history.
An average of 90,000 union soldiers perished each year of the 4-year American Civil War,
necessitating the establishment of large cemeteries.
In 1862, Congress passed legislation that allowed the President of the United States
to purchase land for the establishment of cemeteries for soldiers who die while in the
service of the country.
The Poplar Grove National Cemetery was established in 1866, just one year after the Civil War
ended.
The remains of nearly 6,700 Union soldiers were reinterred at the new cemetery from their
sporadic burial sites around Petersburg.
Even though 68% of the bodies were unidentified, they were still provided a proper burial in
Poplar Grove with a numbered headstone.
At the height of the Great Depression in 1933, responsibility of the National Cemetery System
was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service, which had little
experience managing cemeteries.
To decrease maintenance costs, the Park Service decided to cut down all of the tombstones
and lay them flat.
All of the discarded tombstone bases were sold to local Petersburg resident Oswald Young
in 1934 for a whopping $45.
Oswald used the materials to build his 2-story dream house on the west-side of town.
Did you know that the King of Rock & Roll has an exact model of his Memphis estate in
Virginia?
Well, he does!
Except this one is about 1/64th the size.
Number 6 - Miniature Graceland in Roanoke, Virginia.
In the 1980's, Roanoke homeowners Don Epperly and his wife Kim decided to construct a scale
model of Elvis Presley's Graceland estate in their front yard.
Over the years, additional buildings were added, including a chapel and the Elvis Presley
Car Museum.
The condition of the miniature estate has ebbed and flowed over time due to weather
and vandalism, and Don Epperly passed away in 2012 at the age of 72.
However, according to RoadSideAmerica.com, the display has been cared for by Don's son
Mike Epperly since 2006.
Toward the end of the Civil War, the Battle of Lynchburg resulted in victory for the Confederacy,
which dealt a large blow to Union troops.
That brings us to number 5 on our list - the Pest House Medical Museum.
Relocated inside the historic Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, the Pest House, short for "Pestilence
House," served as the medical office of Dr. John Jay Terrell.
It was here that Dr. Terrell quarantined and treated Lynchburg residents who contracted
deadly contagious diseases such as smallpox or measles.
However, due to the poor medical care and non-existent standards of cleanliness during
the late 19th century, most patients ended up succumbing to their illness.
Today, the Pest House offers a small glimpse at what life was like for the sick and wounded
over 150 years ago.
Up next at number 4, Ellwood Manor - the resting place of Stonewall Jackson's amputated left
arm.
William Jones built Ellwood in 1790 and five years after losing his first wife in 1823,
the 78-year-old married his late-wife's 16-year-old grandniece, Lucinda Gordon.
Lucinda gave birth to the couple's daughter in 1829, whom William decided to name after
his first wife.
So, what does this have to do with Stonewall Jackson's arm you're wondering?
Well, nothing.
This back-story was just too Jerry Springer-ish not to be included.
The thought of a 79-year-old and a 17-year-old having a child together is a little disturbing
to say the least.
Anyway, during the Civil War, Ellwood Manor served as a headquarters and hospital for
Confederate forces.
When General Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot in a friendly fire incident, his left
arm was amputated, and Jackson's chaplain decided to bury the arm at the family cemetery
at Ellwood Manor.
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Number 3, Appomattox Court House National Historic Park.
The American Civil War came to a climactic end after the Battle of Appomattox Court House
on April 9th, 1865.
Following the nine-and-a-half-month Siege of Petersburg and Richmond, which resulted
in Union Victory, Confederate General Robert E. Lee retreated west with hopes of joining
up with the remaining Confederate troops in North Carolina.
Lee's retreat was ultimately cut off in the village of Appomattox Court House.
Outgunned and outnumbered, Lee ended up surrendering to General Ulysses S. Grant inside the parlor
of a house owned by Wilmer McLean.
A printing press was quickly setup to print parole passes for nearly 28,000 Confederate
soldiers, allowing them free passage back home with their horses and personal sidearms.
The Visitor Center at Appomattox Court House is open daily from 9am to 5pm and visiting
the park is completely free.
Located in the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia's Natural Bridge towers over
Cedar Creek and is our number 2 pick.
This beautiful rock formation was a sacred site for the Native American Monacan tribe
and was once owned by former President Thomas Jefferson, who purchased the bridge and surrounding
157 acres of land from King George III in 1774 for 20 shillings.
It was a popular tourist attraction among Europeans during the 18th and 19th centuries,
and it's believed that a young George Washington visited the site in 1750 and carved his initials
23 feet up on the wall of the bridge.
In 2013, 1,500 acres of land, including the bridge, were set to be sold at auction.
The nonprofit Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund purchased the bridge to prevent commercial
development.
However, when the organization soon found itself unable to pay on its $9.1-million-dollar
loan, the state of Virginia stepped in.
Although the bridge is currently on privately owned land, the property is managed by the
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as a State Park.
Natural Bridge is the only place on our top 10 list that isn't free, but a nominal $8-dollar
entrance fee gives you access to the bridge and 6-miles of hiking trails.
Finally, our number 1 pick of the top 10 unique places to visit in Virginia.
The Ruins of Belle Isle.
Just the name alone sounds adventurous!
Accessible by a pedestrian footbridge underneath the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge in Richmond,
Belle Isle is a 540-acre island on the James River that was first explored by Captain John
Smith in 1607.
Walking around the island, you'll find the scattered remains of various industrial operations
that took place between the 19th and 20th centuries.
During the Civil War, the island served as a prison camp for captured Union soldiers
and as many as 30,000 Union POWs were imprisoned on the island between 1862 and 1865.
The island has been a city park since 1973 and is now a popular recreational spot among
local outdoor enthusiasts.
Well that wraps it up for our top 10 places in Virginia.
I hope it's given you some ideas for things to do during your next visit to the Old Dominion
State.
But before you go, we'd love to hear from you.
What are some of your favorite places to visit in Virginia?
Let us know in the comments down below.
Thanks for watching, and until next time, remember to get out and explore!