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Woodrow Wilson
"The Bible...is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation. America was born a Christian nation."
President
 
James Monroe
"The liberty, prosperity, and the happiness of our country will always be the object of my most fervent prayers to the Supreme Author of All Good." 

March 5, 1821 Inaugural Address
President
 
James Madison
"Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. And to the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift [James 1:17] we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land."
President
 
George Washington
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."

Farewell Address

President
 
Thomas Jefferson
“I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands... the Bible makes the best people in the world."
President
 
Thomas Jefferson
"It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it."
President

Virginia

Entered the Union: June 25, 1788 (10) Capital: Richmond
Origin of Name: in honor of Elizabeth “Virgin Queen” of England
State Nickname: The Old Dominion • Mother of Presidents
State Motto: Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)
State Flower Dogwood State Bird: Cardinal
State Tree: Dogwood State Fish: Brook Trout
State Dog: American Foxhound State Shell: Oyster
State Butterfly: Tiger Swallowtail State Beverage: Milk
State Song "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia"
National Forests: 2 • State Forests: 16 • State Parks: 44
Famous For: Presidential homes, Arlington Military Cemetary, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Chincoteague Ponies
Famous Virginians: George Washington • Thomas Jefferson • James Madison • James Monroe • William H. Harrison • John Tyler • Zachary Taylor • Woodrow Wilson (Presidents), Arthur Ashe (tennis), Pearl Bailey (singer), Warren Beatty (actor), Richard Byrd (polar explorer), Roy Clark (country music), William Clark & Meriwether Lewis (explorers), Henry Clay (statesman), Ella Fitzgerald (singer), Patrick Henry (statesman), Sam Houston (political leader), Robert E. Lee (Confederate general), Moses Malone (basketball), John Marshall (US Supreme Court), Cyrus McCormick (inventor), George C. Scott (actor), Sam Snead (golfer), Booker T. Washington (educator)
Animals and Birds: Click on photos of the animals and birds on this page to find out more about them and to hear the sounds they make.
State Fair: Richmond
Arlington Cemetery
foxhound
Monticello
State Fair: Prince William County
Virginia National Forests
Virginia State Parks
Virginia Historic Sites
Virginia Attractions
Fishing in Virginia
Hunting in Virginia
Skiing in Virginia
Virginia Homescholing
Listen to Cardinal's Song
Virginia Photo Gallery 2
SW Virginia Photo Gallery
Virginia Butterfly Gallery
Williamsburg Photo Gallery
Virginia Resorts
Virginia RV Parks
Virginia Hotels & Reviews
Several Native American tribes lived in Virginia -- Cherokee, Powhatan, Manahoac, Meherrin, Monacan, Nahyssan, Nottaway, Occaneechi, Saponi, Shawnee, and Tutelo.
In 1570, Spanish missionaries built a settlement along the York River, but were killed only a few months later. English explorers arrived in the late 1580s, but their expedition failed due to lack of supplies.
In 1607, Captain John Smith established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown. Many settlers died that winter from starvation. Fortunately, ships bringing new colonists with food and supplies arrived early in the spring.
John Rolfe of Jamestown began planting tobacco in 1612. He developed a method that enabled tobacco to be exported, allowing it to become the leading industry in Virginia.
The surrenders ending both the American Revolution (Yorktown) and the Civil War (Appomattox) occurred in Virginia.
Virginia's nickname is “Mother of Presidents” because eight U.S. presidents were born there.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is the world's largest bridge-tunnel complex. It is 18 miles long and has two bridges and two mile-long tunnels. It extends over the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and connects the cities of Cape Charles and Norfolk.
The states of Kentucky & West Virginia were formed from sections of the state of Virginia.
Patrick Henry made his "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech in St. John's Church in Richmond.
Virginia is the home base for the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet.
Virginia is known as "the birthplace of a nation."
Jamestown was the first English settlement in the U.S. It was also the first capital of Virginia.
Jamestown, the first of the original 13 Colonies was founded for the purpose of silk cultivation. Silk to be traded with the Court of King James. After blight fungus destroyed the mulberry trees (silkworm food), sericulturist planted tobacco as a cash crop.
The major cash crop of Virginia is tobacco and many of the people who live there earn their living from the tobacco industry.
The state capital of Richmond was also the capital of the Confederacy.
Over 2,200 of the 4,000 battles fought in the civil war were fought in Virginia.
The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is the second oldest in the United States, it was founded in 1693.
The first peanuts grown in the United States were grown in Virginia.
About 1/2 of all the people in the United States live within a 500 mile radius of the Capital of Virginia.
About one fourth of Virginians work for the United States government.
Virginia's largest private employer is also the world's largest ship building yard.
The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in Arlington National Cemetery.
The Pentagon building in Arlington is the largest office building in the world.
The Pentagon has nearly 68,000 miles of internal telephone lines.
Dulles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.
The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in Virginia in 1619.
The American Revolution ended with the surrender of General Cornwallis in Yorktown.
Virginia has been dubbed the "Internet Capital of the world".
The Atlantic headquarters of NATO is located in Norfolk.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is the world's largest bridge-tunnel complex.
President Thomas Jefferson designed his own home and called it Monticello.
George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, is located in Virginia.
General Robert E. Lee surrendered his men to General Ulysses Grant on April 9, 1865 at the Appomattox Court House.
Virginia Ethnic Roots: African 19.6%, German 11.7%, American 11.2%, English 11.1%, Irish 9.8%, Asian 5.2%.
Religion in Virginia: Christian 84% (Protestant 69%, Catholic – 14%, other 1%), No Religion 12%, Other Religions 2%.
Bristol is legally two cities but they share the same main street. One in Virginia and one in Tennessee each with its own government and city services.
For centuries, wild ponies have roamed the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague off the coast of Maryland and Virginia. To protect the natural resources of the wildlife refuge, the size of the herds are limited. In Virginia, the yearly "Pony Penning" roundup and auction maintains the limit of 150 adult animals.
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving - Thanking God for His blessings
Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2024
In 1621, 52 Pilgrims and approx. 50 Native Americans celebrated a 3-day feast thanking God for His blessings enabling their survival in the New World. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.
Advent
Advent
December 1, 2024
Advent begins 4 weeks before Christmas and remembers the longing and waiting of God's people for the coming of the Messiah.
Bill of Rights Day

Bill of Rights Day

December 15, 1791
Bill of Rights Day

Celebrating the 10 amendments to the Constitution which protect individual rights by placing specific limits on government power. These freedoms do not exist in many countries of the world.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day
December 25th Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. This joyous festival is enjoyed by Christians and nonChristians alike all over the world.