The fourth president of the United States, James Madison, and his wife, Dolley, stamped their influence throughout Culpeper, Orange, Madison, and Rappahannock Counties with their plantation, Montpelier, and the enslaved men and women who supported them.

Approximately ¼ of the Appalachian Trail passes through Virginia, going across some of the state's best mountain scenery and affording access to small-town life.

Initially proposed by Benton MacKaye in 1921, the trail was, and still is, primarily built, maintained, and overseen by volunteers. Selected from the archives of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the National Park Service, and local Appalachian Trail maintenance clubs, the 200-some photographs in Images of America: Along Virginia's Appalachian Trail provide a look at life in the mountains before and during the trail's creation, how it developed, who its early champions were, the many relocations the trail has experienced, and the volunteers who have constructed and maintained it.

The stretch of U.S. Route 15 in Virginia's Piedmont passes through some of the most beautiful and historic land in the United States. Also known as the James Madison Highway, the route links land north and south of the Mason-Dixon Line and follows the same general path used for centuries by Native Americans, colonists, armies, and presidents. As postcards and automobiles became popular in the 20th century, travelers could find postcards for the towns of Leesburg, Warrenton, Culpeper, and Orange. They tell a story of great people and great events, as well as providing a glimpse of daily life for those who lived along this byway.

If you enjoyed the classic novel Christy and the bestselling Mitford series, then you’ll love Beautiful on the Mountain, a real-life tale about serving God in unlikely circumstances. In 1977, Jeannie Light left her fine plantation home amid heartbreak and came to Graves Mill, a tiny hamlet in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Alone in an utterly new kind of life, Jeannie was determined to find the courage to make a fresh start.

The story of the Blue Ridge Parkway--America's Favorite Drive--has been called awe-inspiring. Beginning with the inception of design work done during the early 1930s through its construction and final completion, the parkway--the longest road planned as a single unit in the United States and also an elongated park, protecting significant mountain landscapes far beyond the shoulders of the road itself--was completed with the contributions of many talented individuals. The National Park Service, which oversees it, informs that a Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.

Greene County Historical Society

This fertile and beautiful land, with its small rivers and valleys and surrounding mountains, was designated Madison County in 1792. The county was named for the family of James Madison, fourth president of the United States and the father of the Constitution. His family ran a mill on the Rapidan River, which is now located in the southern section of Madison County. Early in the 18th century, descendants of English and French colonials settled the southern sections of the county, and Quakers and German Lutherans settled the northern sections. Madison County’s first church, Hebron Lutheran, was built in 1740, and its public church school was opened in 1748. Archaeologists have gathered evidence that Native Americans hunted and gathered in the region thousands of years earlier.

Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Virginia's Piedmont, Orange County has a storied cultural heritage. Local writer Patricia LaLand presents a collection of tales that recounts the fascinating history of this beloved county. Relive the days when the Virginia Central Railway ran through Gordonsville and brought travelers to the Exchange Hotel, a time when hard work in Orange's silk mill supported entire communities and when a humble one-room schoolhouse in Rapidan educated local children. From James Madison's Montpelier home to the remains of statesman John Barbour's residence and all points in between, this one-of-a-kind collection covers the historic reaches of Orange County and paints a vivid portrait of the county's past.

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, rural landscapes, rivers and streams, lush valleys, and quaint villages, Rappahannock County has retained its natural beauty for more than 250 years. The abundance of rich soil and pastureland attracted settlers to the area in the 1800s. As the population grew, small communities and mill towns sprang up throughout the county, becoming centers for business and social interaction. These early settlers left an indelible mark on the landscape, and their legacy defines the region. The county retains its rich architectural history through its representation of period homes and buildings, many dating to the early 1800s. Barns, mills, stone walls, and farmhouses are common sights along the miles of rural roads. The county is quickly earning a reputation as a culinary destination due to the growing number of superb vineyards and sumptuous dining establishments that dot the landscape. Rappahannock County remains a rural gem where descendants of those early settlers cherish their heritage.

Originally published in 1824, this influential, classic guide by a noted Virginia hostess is widely regarded as the first truly Southern cookbook. Compiled and written by Mary Randolph (reputed to have been the best cook in Richmond), it contains a treasury of cooking instructions for everything from hearty soups to exotic cordials. Included are time-honored recipes for a wide range of beef, veal, lamb and pork dishes, along with fish, poultry, sauces, vegetables, pudding, cakes, preserves, and more. In addition to such traditional Southern fare as okra soup, curry of catfish, barbequed shoat (a fat young hog), field peas, beaten biscuits and sweet potato buns, readers will also find scores of recipes for dishes, condiments and beverages rarely seen on today's dinner table: sweetbread and oyster pie, grilled calf's head, shoulder of mutton with celery sauce, fried calf's feet, pheasant "a-la-daub," tansy pudding, gooseberry fool (cold stewed gooseberries with custard and whipped cream), pickled nasturtiums, walnut catsup, vinegar of the four thieves, ginger wine, and many other edibles from a bygone era.
More than just a collection of recipes, however, this comprehensive cook's reference also provides a fascinating introduction to the food and customs of the antebellum South, as well as handy instructions for making soap, starch and cologne water, cleaning silver, drying herbs, and much other useful advice.
For this edition, Jan Longone, a specialist in antiquarian wine and food books, has contributed an informative new introduction that outlines the singular qualities of Mrs. Randolph's book and its preeminent place in American culinary history. Any cook, antiquarian or lover of Americana will enjoy this rare glimpse into the kitchens of the past.

Travel in old Virginia was many things, but it was never dull. Stagecoaches were the primary means of transport, carrying mail as well as passengers. Trips that now take hours lasted for days. Coach trips could be dangerous, and all-hands situations arose quickly. A traveler might need to apply horsemanship, carpentry, leather-mending or the sheer brawny effort of shoving the coach out of a muddy ditch. Inns across the state catered to stagecoach riders and acted as community gathering places. Some still stand, like the Rising Sun Tavern in Fredericksburg and Michie Tavern in Charlottesville. Author Virginia Johnson relates tales of those wild early days on the road.

Virginia's rail trails range from the popular path of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail to wilderness walks with wispy waterfalls. These lines pass scenes once viewed only by the eyes of train engineers or a few lucky passengers. Now those trails can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a scenic hike or relaxing bike ride or even those saddling up horses. From the sunrise side of the Eastern Shore to the setting sun at the Cumberland Gap, each trail, like the Virginia Creeper" or the "Dick & Willie," has a personality and grandeur all its own. Join author Joe Tennis as he explores restored train stations, discovers a railroad's lost island graveyard and crosses the commonwealth on its idyllic paths."

Patrick L. O'Neill