Category: Virginia

One night in Durango CO

We spent one night at Historic Strater Hotel in Durango, an historic mining town in southern Colorado.

The Historic Strater Hotel, built in 1887.
Lobby of the Strater.
Diamond Belle Saloon.
At the Diamond Belle Saloon, this guy played ragtime favorites all night. He was really good!
Main Avenue.
The Durango & Silverton Railroad takes passengers to Silverton on a three hour train ride along the scenic Animas River. We had planned to spend a day on this tour, but unfortunately had to cut it out to shorten the trip.
This is Chimney Rock, near Pagosa Springs CO, on the way to Durango from New Mexico.

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg VA

Visiting Blacksburg for a funeral, we had some extra time so we took a ride through the Virginia Tech campus.
Lane Stadium.
Statue of former football coach Frank Beamer.
April 16 Memorial.
32 Virginia Tech students and faculty members were murdered on campus on April 16, 2007. This memorial honors those who were killed.
Miller’s Cabin at Historic Springfield, built around 1850. Private residence not open for tours.
“The Merry Oak”. This tree was already present when the Preston family built Smithfield Plantation in 1774. It is probably more than 500 years old.
The Smithfield Plantation house was built 1772-1773 for Colonel William Preston, and was the home of three governors of Virginia, James Patton Preston, John Floyd Jr. and John Buchanan Ford.
Blacksmith shop.
Slave cabin, circa 1820.
Cross section of the trunk of a walnut tree that was planted here in 1852. The rings track to the history of Virginia Tech.

Luray Caverns

Luray VA

Luray Caverns is the largest cavern in the Eastern US. It was discovered by Andrew Campbell in 1878. Its most famous features are the stalactites and stalagmites. Definitely worth a visit.
We visited on Thanksgiving Day.
X marks the spot of the original discovery of the caverns. So many different formations throughout the caverns. It is amazing.
Stalactites hang from the ceiling.
The famous stalacpipe organ.
Stalagmites grow up on the bottom of a cavern from the same drip-water source, the mineral from which is deposited after the water droplet falls across the open space in the rock.
Underwater lake reflects like a mirror the stalactites.
Another reflective lake. Pretty cool.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Bristol VA

Bristol is considered the birthplace of Country Music, so of course they built a museum.
In 1927, Bristol hosted what became known as “The Bristol Sessions”.
Interesting history.
The mandolin is a key instrument in country music.
Gazoo.
Autoharp.
Oscar Schmidt guitar was owned, signed and played by Jimmie Rodgers, and also signed by June Carter Cash, Janette Carter, Loretta Lynn, Doyle Lawson, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Earl Scruggs, Roni Stoneman and others.
Banjo
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs sang the Ballad of Jed Clampett, for the Beverly Hillbillies.
Live radio studio WBCM.
A constant theme throughout country music history is the gospel song Will The Circle Be Unbroken, first popularized by Maybelle Carter, mother of June Carter Cash. Maybelle popularized the guitar as the lead instrument for country music, with a style named “Carter Scratch”.
Willie Nelson singing Will The Circle Be Unbroken.
Hee Haw
Minnie Pearl and Grandpa Jones on Hee Haw. My father saw Grandpa Jones in concert in Fredericksburg.
So basically, hillbilly, country and bluegrass music came from southwest Virginia.