Kid volunteering here was AMAZING he built wooden thing that was VERY impressive. This guy needs a…read moreraise or an award or something. He was probably only like 14 too.

Do yourself a favor - book Lufthansa tickets to Munich or Frankfurt, book a car and travel to…read moreGerman country side. Kidding (no I'm not). This is not a review for the museum - I visited years ago and it was lovely experience. However, with massive expansion and ongoing construction- I felt the need to stop by and ask them to consider installing traffic signs saying "dead end" and such to help navigate through the area . Because they completely changed road layout. Well, woman in visitors office couldn't be more unhelpful or indifferent - she went arguing with me about past of that road and... I'm just not sure what exactly she's doing in service industry. I meant to make helpful suggestion, ended up deciding never spend another dollar in this institution. Shame.

Fun and free activity. Great friendly and knowledgeable staff…read more Easy way to learn the history of the area.

Loved learning the history and being able to see the inside of the building. The staff was so…read morefriendly, helpful, and knowledgeable!

Such a beautiful space with an amazing collection. You can really feel the love the moment you walk…read morein. Walter and Lao Russell left behind work that's truly inspiring and it stays with you even after you leave. Definitely a must see if you're in the area, especially with so much to explore nearby like Historic Main Street in Waynesboro and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive just minutes away.

Waynesboro is worth visiting as a historic town with beautiful scenery. Do not miss The Russell…read moreMuseum on the Main Street! Walter Russell and his wife, Lao, were artists and creators. He was a scientist, a sculptor, a musician and a philosopher. You will be enthralled by this collection. We had a fabulous tour with the curator who is personally involved and made fascinating people more enthralling by sharing his personal experiences. Highly recommend!!!

American Civil War Museum @ Appomattox, VA…read more This place is a gem for people that love history! Cleburne's coat that he was killed in at the battle of Franklin had me in absolute aweeee! Thank y'all for preserving these artifacts for the people to enjoy. I would highly recommend this place! On April 8, 1865, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia paused its march a mile from the small village of Appomattox Court House. Lee intended to resupply there before heading to Lynchburg, Virginia, and then south to Danville, Virginia. Unanticipated was the arrival of Union cavalry coming from the south under Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's command. That evening Union Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer successfully led some of the cavalry against the Confederate supply trains at the nearby Appomattox Station. Although shaken, Lee hoped to break through to Lynchburg the next day. On the morning of April 9, Lee ordered his cavalry, under the command of Gen. John B. Gordon, to attack Sheridan's cavalry, which had blocked the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. Lee commanded an army of nearly 27,000 soldiers, which paled in comparison to Grant's force of some 63,000 troops, but he still intended to force his way through Union lines. The Confederate cavalry initially held their own and even succeeded in driving the Union horsemen from their position atop a nearby ridge. However, Gordon saw thousands of Union troops quickly approaching and sent word to Lee that his position was hopeless unless the infantry supported them. Lee's infantry, however, was engaged with Grant's Army of the James, which had approached the Confederates from the west under cover of night. Faced with no route of escape to Lynchburg, Lee agreed to negotiate terms of surrender. In a statement about her husband, Mary Custis Lee remarked that "General Lee is not the Confederacy." Her assessment was spot on, for the Confederacy still lived. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army--the next largest after Lee's still at war--was operating in North Carolina. Lt. Gen. Richard Taylor controlled forces in Alabama, Mississippi, and part of Louisiana. Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith's men were west of the Mississippi, and Brig. Gen. Stand Watie was in command of an Indian unit in the Far West. Nathan Bedford Forrest had men in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.

This was an amazing museum with many beautiful pieces. Do y'all a favor and take a look. It gives a…read morebeautiful perspective and shows how far we have come since as a nation

Great Historical Site! We went back in 2017,…read moreSo it's been a minute. We loved it. Ask questions to the guides as they are very knowledgeable!

Monticello is probably the most famous of all the President houses (Mt Vernon may have it beat)…read more As a self-proclaimed Presidential history nerd, I have been to several presidential homes, libraries, museums, gravesites, monuments, etc. Monticello's history is the most interesting because of many factors including Jefferson's architectural obsession, the atrocities with slavery that occurred with building and maintaining it, and the innovations and experimentation Jefferson used while living here. Monticello is a huge operation. You should definitely get a reservation. You park at the bottom of the hill (or maybe middle of it) then you go through metal detectors and are now in the cafe/gift shop/bathroom area. From there you can take the 1/2 mile walk up hill to the home or take the bus. Once you are up top, you will be put into different huddles depending on your tour time. Oh, there are several different style tours, we just did the general admission tour. Anyway, you can walk around the grounds while you wait. The whole thing is very well organized. Our tour guide took us through various rooms in the house, pointed out various artifacts from Jefferson's past, told stories and was very knowledgeable when asked questions. The group I was in was probably 20 people. The whole tour took 45 mins. Then we walked the grounds independent of the tour including looking at Jefferson's family cemetery plot. My only issue is that I went on July 1st, 2026, so the whole back (or front) had a huge tent set up for the America 250 celebration. Not a big deal just didn't get the complete feel or pics.

I've visited here thrice over 2 decades and learn something new every time. I went on a Saturdsy in…read moreearly April was was unreasonably warm at 80 degrees. Our tour guide Wanda was informative. A family with 4 children between ages 3 to 8 were the others on my tour. The parents indicated that they were being home schooled which to me explained their good behavior and genuine interest in history. Understandably, the presentation was geared to the 4 children which I was fine with. The adjoining museum holds a surprising amount of Jackson paraphernalia, and the attendants were most helpful. Heard of Stonewall Jackson but interested in Major Jackson the family man and husband? Then check this out!

I did not visit the house but I stopped and reviewed this wonderful historical marker that is…read moreplaced outside. It's worth pointing out that we're in the south and Virginia fought for the Confederacy which may be a problem for some. The marker has the same text on both sides, reading "Virginia Military Institute instructor Maj. Thomas J. Jackson (1824-1863) and his second wife, Mary Anna Morrison (1831-1915), bought this house in 1858. Built ca. 1801, this typical middle-class dwelling was the only house Jackson ever owned. Enslaved African Americans Amy, Hetty, George, Cyrus, and Emma worked and lived on the property. Jackson left Lexington in April 1861 to fight for the Confederacy. Later known as "Stonewall," he became a lieutenant general. Mary Anna Jackson moved to North Carolina but owned this house until 1906, when it became the community hospital. The house has been a museum since 1954 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places." This is marker number Q-11-a and was erected by the Department of Historic Resources in 2021. [Review 19589 overall - 1426 in Virginia - 560 of 2023.]

Unfortunately due to the rain our ride was cut short. BUT the characters still put on a show for us…read moreand made their way around interacting with the passengers and sharing a lot of historical information. If you're looking for a unique scenic experience in Virginia this is a great one to experience. There are limited themed rides so check in often and book upon interest. I look forward to getting a full experience on my next ride!

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest is a perfect pairing to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Get the…read morecombo ticket, you'll save a good deal of cash! There are guided tours available on a schedule, but we preferred to wander at our own pace. You can go in the house, just be nice and don't touch stuff. They had a free kennel on site, but we couldn't figure out how to work it, and dog's are allowed to stroll the grounds, so we just took turns going inside. I loved walking on the roof, and the cellar was extremely interesting! The shape of the home was intriguing, and there was a ton of information available to read and discover!!

Had the opportunity to travel back East to enjoy some fall activities with friends from my DC days…read more We chose to attend the annual Thomas Jefferson Fall Wine Festival at Poplar Forest. Something we used to do as a group. I once worked for a vineyard in Leesburg VA that closed in recent years yet reminisced with the owner of Notaviva a nearby vineyard that knew the owners. The Founder of Notaviva wrote a book about thier wine and farming journey, pairing elements of wine and music. I really enjoyed the cabernet franc from the property. It may be a surprise that you can order the wine in a bag. Not a bottle and not a box, but a packable bag! It was a beautiful November 70 degree day and the event provided programs, glasses and live music to name a few things. A beautiful day at this historic property. #FallFestival #WineFestival #JeffersonsPoplarForest #CentralVA

I enjoyed learning the history of the bridge. The cave arches were breathtaking. I did not enjoy…read moreclimbing the stairs to return to the main building, but the experience was definitely a hike! I was excited to watch otters fish for food in the streams. The waterfall was not as grand as I expected it to be, but the natural scenery was worth viewing for $9. As a bonus, there is a trail to a cave.

This is a perfect place to take a road trip break! We did exactly that on a recent drive from…read moreAsheville to Richmond. The visitor center was easy to find and the building reminded me of those found at the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson. Coincidentally, Thomas Jefferson also owned the land on which the Natural Bridge is located. After paying your admittance fee at the center, you head down several stairs and will pass a small waterfall. Very soon thereafter, you will see the Natural Arch. There is a flat path that leads you through the arch where you can continue your stroll along a steam for about 15 minutes to see a larger waterfall. "Saltpeter Cave" can also be found along the path. It was interesting to read that Mr. Jefferson leased out this shelter for the excavation of potassium nitrate which was eventually used to make gun powder. While I would not make the Natural Bridge a destination trip, it is definite worthwhile to explore if passing through the area.

I ask three things of any arcade: Burger Time? Frogger? Skii / Ice Ball? Decades Arcade has all…read morethree and so much more. Pay for two hours or all day, the games are unlimited turns (free play) within your time slot. We brought three of our kids, teen girls & 21 yr old son, everyone stayed highly entertained, well worth the $60 / 5 people. Staff is fun, informative and friendly. They did not honor my brilliant "if my name starts with Arcade, do get a discount?" pitch, but it's always worth asking, lol. Extremely clean, fully stocked, well lit bathrooms with eco-friendly hand soap and surface cleaner. Vending machines with sodas & seltzer. Comfortable spacing between consoles. I'm so glad that we spent a portion of our afternoon at this wonderful establishment, it was a great way to beat the heat and bond with the kids over video games from when we were children PLUS we got to play the games introduced by their generation. YES: FAMILY FRIENDLY

Awesome place. Plenty of games to keep you busy, wide variety of machines spanning many decades…read more Pleasant atmosphere.