History with the Hills

William Henry Harrison – Though he represents Ohio in many history books, Harrison was born at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. He holds the unfortunate record for the shortest presidency, dying just 31 days after his inauguration. John Tyler was Harrison’s Vice President and the first to ascend to the presidency due to the death of […]

Imagine it was August 1963, you are at the local Watermelon Park in Clarke County. A black sedan pulls up and the legendary man in black steps out, could you believe your eyes? He wants to test a new song, a song that is on the top 100 Greatest Country Hits now. The Ring of […]

Today, we’re taking a closer look at two of Virginia’s most influential Founding Fathers, James Madison and James Monroe. Madison played a key role in shaping the framework of the United States government and later served as the nation’s fourth president. Monroe, a Revolutionary War veteran and the fifth president, and last Founding Father to […]

Nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Warren County, a site that’s gone from military horses to endangered species. This is the story of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. The Smithsonian Conservation & Research Center

Nestled at the northern edge of Front Royal, Virginia, where the North and South Forks of the majestic Shenandoah River converge, lies a hidden gem of history and architecture: the Riverton Historic District. This picturesque community, which predates its current town name, is a fascinating slice of the Shenandoah Valley’s industrial and transportation past. Riverton […]

Samuel Carson, an Irish immigrant who established the dominant Carson Lime Company in Riverton in 1868, commissioned this home as a physical symbol of his success. The location, overlooking the booming industrial center he helped create at the confluence of the Shenandoah River’s forks, was a statement in itself. Killahevlin

There isn’t a whole lot of information out there concerning how Duck Street in Front Royal got its name, but here is the evidence I uncovered.  In the early 1900’s that whole area was known as Morgan’s Mammoth Duck Ranch. It was a world-renowned for having hardy ducks and geese. Duck Street in Riverton

The Carson Lime Company also constructed the Old Riverton Post Office and Grocery.  It is set right behind the Duncan Hotel on the Old Winchester Turnpike.   The Old Riverton Post Office & General Store

The Old Duncan Hotel in Riverton was once a beautiful hotel with a wrap-around porch. It was an important destination spot in the early 1900’s and was owned by several different families. The Duncan Hotel

George Washington was a skilled dancer, whiskey distiller and avid dog lover, but never had wooden teeth. Thomas Jefferson was a true Renaissance man, loved books and food.