Richmond, Virginia

I passed through North Carolina and into Virginia today.  In Richmond, the state capital which also served as the capital of the Confederate States of America, I visited the Museum of the Confederacy.  There were a lot of neat exhibits, such as flags, uniforms, and a campsite that was set up with things that belonged to Robert E. Lee.  Next door to the Museum is the Confederate White House, the home of Jefferson Davis while he served as CSA President.








Virginia is the "Cradle of Presidents."  More United States Presidents were born there than any other state.  When I visited Hollywood Cemetery about a mile from the Museum, I saw the graves of two US Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler.  Monroe's grave was a cage-looking mausoleum, and Tyler's obelisk and bust were only about 10 yards away.  Since Richmond was the heart of the Confederacy, there are a huge number of Confederate graves there, including those of Jefferson Davis and his family.  This cemetery, which is very hilly, has remarkable hillside views of the James River and downtown Richmond.

From Pedro to Market House -- The Carolinas

Spent the bigger part of the day driving across South Carolina.  

Just before crossing the North Carolina line, stopped at the long-time tourist trap known as "South of the Border."  I couldn't resist after all those funny billboards along I-95.  Found a geocache on the pedestrian bridge, then snapped this photo of Pedro.

I spent the evening in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a big military town with Fort Bragg nearby.  The old downtown area has some historic buildings, the most significant of which is the Market House.  Built in 1832-33, the structure's upper level was the town hall, while the bottom level served as an open-air market until 1906.  There was a skirmish around the building as Sherman's army moved through the area late in the Civil War.  Today, the Market House sits in the middle of a roundabout on the east end of old downtown, and it is still used as a meeting place.

The Journey Begins

I left home in Southeast Georgia this morning around 8 a.m.  My trip will take me to NYC over the next five days, then across the Lincoln Highway to San Francisco.  Once I got everything packed, I made sure my LH bumper sticker was in place, and I hit the road!  Wish me luck!!