You've got mail.

Michael and I are super lucky because we have amazing friends and family that understand our love for REAL mail, and since the move we've gotten lots of love in the form of cards and packages. We've been returning the favor by sending postcards when we go to new places around the South. After sending out a recent batch I remembered some vintage postcards I had purchased in MN and WI before we left:

 As you can see, we have the capitol buildings in Madison and Saint Paul, as well as a fun "Greetings from St.Paul" postcard in the middle. The absolute best part about buying postcards from antique shops is that if you're lucky, you find a used one that was actually sent- and you can capture a minute in time for the life of someone out there.

       This first card sent from Merrill, Wisconsin in 1915. YUP. 1915.  I didn't realize it when I first purchased it- I thought it was old because it was sent when the new capitol building was built (first showing to the public in 1915). The date in the lower left corner says 11/15- but  I was confused that the cost was 2 cents, since I thought postage only increased in price- and the other one I have was from 1949 and cost 1 cent. I did some research and it turns out that ~1915-1917 the cost of postage went up to 2 cents, and then a few years later went back down to 1 cent! I know, exciting, right? The other giveaway was the white border- which was used from 1915-1930- starting during WWI to save money on ink! (See y'all, it's not just Michael that gives History lessons out left and right!)

- sent from WI to MA " Dear Grandpa, Have been up in Wisc about a week. Will pro[b]ably be up here until after Thanksgiving. Hope you are well, Kenneth"

 This one was clearly sent in 1949 from St. Paul, and the writing on it is so great!

"Hi Don!! Plenty cold here but on the move so it isn't so bad. Attending Winter Carnival here and it is beautiful. Everyone is in a gala mood- a regular Mardi Gras. - Elenor"

 My plan is to frame them, but I love both sides of them so much I can't decide which to frame! We'll definitely be going to antique shops out here and hopefully I'll be able to find some old Virginia ones too.

All this being said, don't hold yourself back in sending us some more mail folks :) !

Museum of the Confederacy

Last Monday I dragged Laura along to a site I've been drooling over since we got here: The Museum of the Confederacy.

We weren't allowed to take photos inside, so this is what you get.  Let me tell ya though, the place was three stories of awesome!  Among the hundreds of artifacts were many of Robert E. Lee's personal effects, along with our favorite piece; a pair of bullets that met halfway on the battlefield and formed a perfect flower pattern as they smashed together.  

Back outside the museum, I posed next to the anchor of the C.S.S. Virginia.  This isn't very important, but my mother will appreciate the fact that I am wearing real shoes.  I broke down and bought a pair, so no more ratty flip flops or running shoes.  Sad day.

Right next to the museum lies the former White House of the Confederacy.  Jefferson Davis lived here, right down the street from us, for the duration of the Civil War.  The house is completely outfitted with its original pieces or pieces from that period where necessary.  Also, President Lincoln visited the residence a mere ten days before he was assassinated.  It was quite an experience to stand in the same rooms he did all those years ago.  

It's no US White House, but hey, it's about as good as it gets for a "country" that came and went in a matter of 4 years.  

-MB

Never Forget

This is the only picture we have from the VA Holocaust Museum (which we visited early last week). I'm pretty sure they don't allow cameras- but even if they did I wasn't going to be taking any shots.

Michael and I have each been to a Holocaust museum or two by ourselves (in DC and Israel), but we wanted to see what the VA one was like. The museum had great ratings online- and is one of the few free museums in Richmond. I've got to say, it was moving. I've been to Poland, I've walked through the concentration camps, I've seen things you can't unsee. So when I say it was moving, I'm not just slapping a generic "oh it was good" on it, I mean it.

We hadn't been to a Holocaust museum quite like this before: not only did it give the whole general history, but it also followed one family throughout the years leading up to and through the Holocaust itself. It ended with a room that had pictures of survivors who settled in Richmond after leaving the camps. I have to say, any time I see the numbered tattoos, I lose it.

If you all have a Holocaust museum nearby you, don't overlook it. Or, come visit Richmond and I'll take you to this one. You won't regret it.

Hollywood Cemetery

In the spirit of Halloween, we decided to take a stroll through Hollywood Cemetery.  Far from your ordinary graveyard, this special place is host to 18,000 confederate soldiers, a few generals, the President of the Confederacy, and two U.S. Presidents.

We began our driving tour with Confederate soldiers' graves.  The area is highlighted by a memorial pyramid.

Near this area lies J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederate general and cavalry commander who has appeared on this blog in the past.  He lies here...

Another Confederate general, by the name of George Pickett, rests eternally here.  To make a long and complicated story short, Pickett is often credited with losing the war for the South after the infamous Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg.  

Downtown Richmond from the cemetery!

Ok, back to the dead guys.  Next we came across the grave of Jefferson Davis.  Davis served as the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.

Our journey concluded at the President's Circle.  Here lie James Monroe and John Tyler, the 5th and 10th Presidents of the United States, respectively.

President Monroe's tomb lies visibly above ground inside here

 
Happy Halloween!

-MB

As They Say...The Rest Is History

The title of this post is a hint to what lies ahead, and might be a hint as to who is writing this!  Yup, it's me again.  Post #2 with yours truly, Michael.  Laura and I took a day trip down I-64 and wound up in "America's Historic Triangle."  Although we didn't see the whole triangle (sorry Williamsburg), we did find our way to Yorktown and Jamestown.

Although Laura doesn't share my excitement, Yorktown proved to be very impressive.  Yes, I understand that huge open fields and giant mounds of dirt are inherently boring.  Point, Laura.  BUT... it's what happened on this hallowed ground 230 years ago that makes it so special.  American and French forces defeated the British in what would be the final battle of the American Revolution, effectively securing our independence.  Two points, America!

British defensive lines surrounding the city of Yorktown

Further down the line, along with British flag

A few hundred yards across from the previous pictures lie the French and American positions

Victory monument dedicated to the American victory at Yorktown

 Ok ok, maybe Laura has a point.  But to think men like Washington and Cornwallis walked these very grounds and determined the course of world history....well that gets me pretty amped up!

Now on to something we both really enjoyed.  Jamestown.  The 1607 site features tangible structures that actually allow one to see what it may have been like way back when (come on Laura, like a wide open field doesn't give you the same experience?!).  Over 400 years ago, 104 colonists landed here and established the first permanent new world settlement in the name of King James I of England.  It is also the home of the John Smith and Pocahontas legend.

The approach

Just inside the outer wall

Some guy named John Smith.  Never heard of him

Well, that's all for now.  I'll leave you with a couple more of my favorite pictures from Jamestown.

Details of Jamestown and Yorktown

More RVA

Well, now that you've all gotten a taste of Michael blogging, I'm guessing y'all don't have any interest in hearing from be again, but here goes. We wandered around Richmond a little more today, including a visit to the Capitol. Since it's Friday, let's turn this into a drinking game: any time you see a bronzed statue, take a shot. Hope you all have a bottle handy.

City Hall

Stonewall Jackson

Washington + buddies

State Capitol Building

State Capitol from another angle

Pretty, eh?

Best part about living in the Arts District- all the normally ugly newspaper and electrical metal boxes are painted!