Historical Marker

The first permanent depository for court records was built in 1813 in Chatham, the Pittsylvania County seat. Restored to its original state in 1986 by the Pittsylvania Historical Society, the building is now home to a wide assortment of county historical artifacts, including numerous items of military history - from the Revolutionary War through World War II. Step inside this cozy building, now listed as a Virginia Historical Landmark, and take a trip back in time.

The week prior to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox the Confederate government moved from Richmond to Danville, Virginia. Members of the government took up residence in various homes around town. The Sutherlin Mansion – today the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History -- became the temporary residence of President Jefferson Davis. There, he composed his final proclamation to the Confederacy, held one of the last official cabinet meetings, and planned to continue the fight. Hear the exciting story of the last desperate days of the dying Confederate government.

Ireland

centro civico de san carlos de bariloche

How to find the Lion Monument in Lucerne
By bus: From the main train station take a northbound bus number
1 (Maihof)
19 (Kantonsspital/Friedental)
22 (Perlen/Inwil)
23 (Dierikon-Root)
until stop "Löwenplatz" [Lion Square].
From Löwenplatz turn to the right for a few steps and then left again
and follow either Löwengartenstrasse or Denkmalstrasse
leading you north to the Alpineum.
From there it's only a few more steps to the entrance to the English Garden
with the Lion Monument and the Glacier Garden.

C-7 Orville Wright's First Virginia Flight

Orville Wright made his first heavier-than-air flight in Virginia at Fort Myer for the U.S. Army on 3 Sept. 1908. He flew the plane slightly more than a minute, reaching a speed of 40 miles per hour. During the next two weeks here, Wright broke world records for speed and time spent in the air for a heavier-than-air craft. On 17 Sept. 1908, however the plane crashed, killing Lt. Thomas Selfridge and injuring Wright. In 1909, the Wright brothers returned to Fort Myer. After additional flight tests, the Army bought their plane for $25,000 on 31 July 1909 for its first military aircraft.

C-2 World's First Public Passenger Flight

On September 9, 1908, near this site, Orville Wright carried aloft in public his first passenger, Lt. Frank P. Lahm, for a flight lasting 6 minutes and 24 seconds. Three days later, he took Major George O. Squier on a flight of 9 minutes and 6 seconds duration. From this primitive beginning has evolved an air transportation system that today spans the globe.

C-1 Clay and Randolph Duel

Although dueling was illegal in Virginia, Secretary of State Henry Clay challenged U.S. Senator John Randolph of Roanoke. Clay called Randolph out to defend his honor after Randolph insulted him in a speech on the Senate floor. Randolph confided to Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri that he had no intention of hurting Clay, who was married and had a child. The duel took place on 8 April 1826 a half mile north at Pimmit Run. Both first shots missed their intended targets. Clay's second shot also missed, and Randolph raised his pistol and fired it in the air. The duel then ended, and the unhurt adversaries met each other halfway and shook hands.

B-26 Mosby's Midnight Raid
Col. John Singleton Mosby formed the 43d Battalion Virginia Cavalry "to weaken the armies invading Virginia by harassing their rear." Near midnight on 8 March 1863, he led his horsemen undetected through Union lines to disrupt communications between Dranesville and Alexandria. Without losing a man or firing a shot, Mosby and his Rangers rode into and out of the garrisoned village at Fairfax Court House and captured Union Brig. General Stoughton in his bed, as well as two captains, thirty enlisted men, and fifty-eight horses. It was Mosby's most famous raid.