CHANTILLY, Va. — The Sully Historic Site in Chantilly, Va., offers visitors a glimpse into life in the early 19th century with its mansion and the surrounding estate. The original home was built in 1794 by Richard Bland Lee, northern Virginia’s first congressman. The Federal-style architecture and period furnishings reflect the lifestyle of Virginia's elite during that era.

Today, the property is managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority and provides guided tours, educational programs, and seasonal events, including today’s Juneteenth celebration.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/570

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HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, Harpers Ferry is home to the iconic John Brown Fort, where abolitionist John Brown and his raiders made their last stand, the charming historic Lower Town, and the original campus of Storer College. For 25 years, Storer College was the only school in West Virginia where people of color could receive education beyond the primary level.

From the park, visitors can walk across the Potomac River from West Virginia into Maryland and visit the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park towpath (also part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail). Alternatively, hikers can traverse the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as it winds through Lower Town.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/565

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ANNANDALE, Va. — The Manassas Gap Railroad Historic Site Park in Annandale, Virginia, offers visitors a glimpse into the region's rich railway history. Set amidst serene natural surroundings, the park showcases remnants of the Manassas Gap Railroad, a planned transportation route linking the Shenandoah Valley to Northern Virginia.

Construction of the Manassas Gap Railroad began in the 1850s to transport agricultural products from the Ohio and Shenandoah Valleys to markets in Northern Virginia. Merchants in Alexandria opted to construct the Independent Line of the Manassas Gap Railroad to circumvent high rail rental charges imposed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The proposed railroad would span 34 miles from Bull Run, traversing the city of Fairfax before veering east near the village of Annandale, proceeding into Indian Run Valley, and terminating at the rail yards of Alexandria.

Although the filling and leveling necessary for the rail bed's construction were completed, funding shortages halted progress, and the rails never extended beyond Alexandria. The rail beds became notable earthworks during Civil War battles and skirmishes in Annandale and Fairfax.

Today, the Manassas Gap Railroad Historic Site Park and the Annandale Community Park encompass 1,870 feet of railroad bed, two historic culverts, and substantial masonry work, preserving the legacy of this ambitious but ultimately unrealized railway project.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/522

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