Visiting Tennssee and Virginia

One morning, during a driving rain storm, we visited the Oak Ridge Museum
in Tennessee.  The museum was all about atomic power; Oak Ridge was one of the most important research facilities during WWII, working on developing the atomic bomb.  It was very interesting to see the models and movies and stuff, but it was a little like going to a science class.
Later that day we drove  on to Virginia and went to Lexington.  There we visited Stonewall Jackson's home and grave, and also went to Washington and Lee's College.  There was an original portrait of Pres. Washington there, and in the museum we saw where Lee was buried.   It was kind of interesting to discover how closely George Washington and General George E. Lee were.

We tried to visit Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, but discovered it was too expensive.  Taking a large family of eight on vacation was quite a challenge.  Although touring someplace that cost a few dollars a person wasn't that big a deal for small families, it was hard on large families like ours.  We had to be careful and pick and choose the places we really wanted to visit.  I understood, of course, but still, I was disappointed because this was the second mansion I didn't get to explore.

One place that dad really wanted us to visit was Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was very hot the day we went, and very sticky.  It wasn't too bad riding in the camper, but walking through Williamsburg it was!  Poor Julie and Sharon got so hot and tired they couldn't o on, so we only visited a few of the old homes, but even that took a long time.  Mostly, I felt sorry for the lady tour guides.  They were all dressed in authentic period costumes, and they looked so hot and uncomfortable!

After Williamsburg we went to Jamestown and Yorktown.  Both had interesting visitor’s centers and museums.  There were also scenic drives we took to see the actual battle fields were the early American patriots fought for our freedom.  Everything was cool and green and lovely, and although the drivers were long they were so pretty I didn't mind.