The Chesapeake Bay
Good morning class
Get out your Rand McNally and turn to Virginia
What do you see? Bueller? Bueller?
The Chesapeake Bay
Correct
Now note the six rivers that flow into The Bay
Starting at the north, Patuxent, Wicoomico,Potomac, Rappahannock, York and finally the James River. These rivers were very important in the development of Virginia and Maryland. They were the links between the
New World and Great Britain. At the mouth of the rivers, where they enter the Bay, it is known as "Tidewater" and up stream, the land between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers is referred to as "The Northern Neck"
On the shores of these rivers were born three Presidents - Washington, Monroe and Madison
George Washington
Pictures Two
Pope's Creek ( Potomac River far in the background ) is the northern boundary of the farm
Picture Five
A reproduction of the house where George Washington was born. The original house burnt down. There is no record of what the house looked like but historians speculated that it might have looked like this.
The farm is a great place to bring children. They will have a memorable time exploring the forest, the barnyards and garden
James Monroe
On Highway 205 just north of Washington's birthplace and near Colonial Beach
James Madison
Belle Grove Plantation, on the north shore of the Rappahannock River
A gem of a house that is definitely worth a visit. It is now a B&B. I believe there are five suites
furnished with period furniture. The plantation also offers afternoon tea in the parlours and Dining Room
Picture Three
A stair tread detail of Belle Grove's main stairway
Picture One
Old Port Royal School. This was my main objective for the road trip, the other sites were discovered completely by chance
It was a school for African American children from 1924 to 1959,
A one room school for K thru 7,
Mrs. Hortense Brown Rich was the sole teacher from the date of construction until it closed in 1959.
She always referred to the children as her "scholars''. The school was closed as a result of desegregation and she followed her scholars to
the new school in nearby Bowling Green, Virginia. She passed away in 1995
Picture Four
The boundary between Maryland (Catholic) and Virginia (Protestant) was established on the south shore of the Potomac. I'm not sure why. I must google, someday
Virginia in the 50's was a "Blue" state.and in the old resort town of Colonial Beach, off track betting establishments were built on piers and ten feet or so out into the Potomac River
The Riverview Inn is a gem from the 50's. It's like South Beach has found the Potomac.
The Northern Neck is a 90 minute drive south from DC. Most of the drive is heavy suburban traffic, fast food restaurants, big box stores, liquor stores and car dealerships.
Rural Maryland starts on the south side of La Plata. A great long weekend road trip would be down Highway 3, Kings Highway, to tour Washington's birthplace and Stratford Hall, the Lee family mansion.
Spend the first night in Yorktown for a full day of exploring the battlefields and nearby Williamsburg. The final night should be in Newport News. This allows an early start of the final day of the road trip to
check out the naval ships and Fort Monroe then head up the south side of the James to catch the ferry for Jamestown and the plantations along the north side of the James River.
If you don't mind traffic, work your way to Interstate 95 for a fun drive back to DC.
