Best places to visit in Virginia

Virginia's Essential Journey

This collection traces the foundations of the United States through Virginia’s historic sites and the capital region. It features the 1607 Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Battlefield alongside presidential landmarks like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Washington Monument. Visitors can explore the living history of Colonial Williamsburg, the artistic treasures of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the natural beauty of Shenandoah National Park. The list also highlights specialized institutions, including the International Spy Museum, the Library of Congress’s conservation center, and the neoclassical architecture of the Virginia State Capitol.

Virginia's Essential Journey — Map

Jkenwood78 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Washington Monument

Tall stone obelisk memorial dedicated to George Washington, featuring an observation point with scenic city views and free access.

AgnosticPreachersKid / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Monticello

Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father and the third president of the United States, who began…

Humberto Moreno / CC BY 2.0

C

Williamsburg Historic District

Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation presenting a part of the historic district in the city of…

Aude / CC BY-SA 2.5

D

Yorktown Battlefield

The siege of Yorktown led to the American Revolution. Make sure to drop by the very first American battlefield.

Morn / CC-BY-SA-3.0

E

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Gravesite

See the grave site and the memorial dedicated to the former President of the United States John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Danvera / CC BY 3.0

F

The Ellipse

The Ellipse, sometimes referred to as President's Park South, is a 52-acre park south of the White House fence and north of Constitution…

Anderskev / CC BY 3.0

G

Virginia State Capitol

The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government of the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the state capital.

Steveturphotg / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Octagon House

The oldest museum of architecture in America is housed in this beautiful historic building that is a noteworthy sight by itself.

I

National Audio-Visual Conservation Center

The Library of Congress is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of…

Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is a national park in the Eastern United States that encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the…

David / CC BY 2.0

K

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum is an independent non-profit history museum which documents the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of…

Eugène Delacroix / Public domain

L

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is an art museum in Richmond, Virginia, United States, which opened in 1936.

Nationalparks / CC BY-SA 2.5

M

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, created in 1957 as Jamestown Festival Park for…

Bmrbarre / Public domain

N

Bruton Parish House

Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States.

Daderot / Public domain

O

DAR Museum

This unique museum houses a great collection of historical relics and items used prior to the Industrial Revolution - travel back in time…

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