Historic sites

Tourists from the world over visit Central Virginia each year to savor the region’s rich history.

The University of Virginia and the homes of Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe welcome visitors year-round.

The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society offers rides on a poled ferry across the James River at Scottsville and walking tours of Charlottesville that highlight the city’s development since the 18th century.

From the 19th century, the Exchange Hotel and Civil War Museum in Gordonsville features medical history. Twentieth-century history is saluted at a museum dedicated to one of television’s first families - the Waltons. The Waltons Mountain Museum is in Schuyler, hometown of series creator Earl Hamner Jr.

The area’s historic sites include:

Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society offers walking tours of historic downtown Charlottesville starting from the McIntire Building, 200 Second St. NE, at 10 a.m. Saturdays from April through October; $5 donation. Historical society exhibits and library open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free. 296-1492. http://www.albemarlehistory.org

Ash Lawn-Highland, on James Monroe Parkway (Route 795) in Albemarle County, is the home of President James Monroe. It is open for tours 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from April through October, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through March. $9, $8 seniors and AAA members, $5 for children ages 6 to 11 and residents of Albemarle and adjacent counties. 293-9539. http://www.ashlawnhighland.org

Barboursville Vineyard and Ruins are at 17655 Winery Road in Orange County. Home of Gov. James Barbour from 1822 to 1842, the mansion burned on Christmas Day 1884. The Tasting Room and self guided tours of the landmark is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Winery tours are noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. Free admission, $4 fee for wine tasting at Barboursville Vineyards. (540) 832-3824. http://www.barboursvillewine.com

Canal Basin Square is at 249 Main St., Scottsville. Outdoor transportation history park highlights the roles of the James River and Kanawha Canal from the Monacan Indians to railroads. Year-round, self-guided tours. 286-9267. http://avenue.org./cbs

Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Wilderness Civil War battlefields are within easy driving distance. http://www.nps.gov/frsp/vc.htm, (540) 373-6122.

Exchange Hotel and Civil War Museum is at 400 S. Main St., Gordonsville. Exhibit features medical treatment during the Civil War, as well as firearms, uniforms, period furniture, battlefield dioramas and soldiers’ letters. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Closed Wednesdays and Thanksgiving Day. Last tours are at 3 p.m. Closed Dec. 1 through March 31. $6, $5 for senior citizens, $3 for children ages 6-15, younger than 6 free. (540) 832-2944. http://www.hgiexchange.org

The Frontier Culture Museum, is at 1290 Richmond Road, Staunton. Directions: Interstate 64, Exit 87, from Interstate 81, Exit 222, Staunton. The outdoor living history museum has authentic farms from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and offers workshops and demonstrations in many crafts and frontier living skills. Costumed staff presentations are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily mid-March through December and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. December through mid-March. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. $10, $9.50 seniors, $9 students, $6 ages 6-12, free if younger than 6. (540) 332-7850. http://www.frontiermuseum.org

Harrison Institute/Small Special Collection Library at the University of Virginia on McCormick Road, adjacent to Alderman Library, on the UVa grounds, features literary and historical collections on display, is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. Free. 924-6040. http://www.lib.virginia.edu/harrison/info/visiting.html

Hatton Ferry, on the James River in southern Albemarle County, is one of two poled ferries still in operation in the United States. Ferries run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-April to mid-October, crossing the James River when water levels permit, operated by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, Albemarle County and Virginia Department of Transportation. Small exhibit at point of embarkation on Route 625, Scottsville, explores the history of the ferries. Admission is free. 296-1492. http://www.hattonferry.org

Humpback Rocks Visitor Center located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Afton Mountain at milepost 5.8 has an interactive trail through a re-created late 19th-century farm that explores Appalachian pioneer life. Area hiking trails. Rangers and park information are available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Traditional musical events and cultural demonstrations to include quilting, basket making, open hearth cooking, pioneer gardening and woodworking will be featured throughout the summer and fall weekends. Free. (540) 943-4716.

James Madison Museum is at 129 Caroline St. in Orange. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Open on weekends March to December. Admission is $4, $3 for AAA members and seniors, $1 for children to age 16. Orange County children admitted free. (540) 672-1776. http://www.jamesmadisonmus.org

Leander McCormick Observatory located on Observatory Hill, is open to the public on the first and third Friday night of each month (except holidays). Weather permitting, visitors can view celestial objects through the historic McCormick Refractor and two smaller telescopes. Visitors can also see presentations by the Astronomy Department faculty and exhibits. McCormick Observatory is also open to educational groups with advanced reservation on the second and fourth Friday of each month. 924-7494.  http://www.astro.virginia.edu/public_outreach/schedule.php

Michie Tavern on Route 53 near Monticello once was a stop on a stagecoach route. Open daily, year-round except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. Tours begin at 11:30 a.m.; the last tour leaves at 4:20 p.m. Tours are $8, $6 for those having lunch, $3 for children ages 6 to 11. The tours are free for local residents. Winter menu is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. November through March and summer menu 11:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for $14.35 plus beverage, dessert and taxes. Servers will bring seconds. No reservations required for groups of fewer than 15. 977-1234. http://www.michietavern.com

Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home on Thomas Jefferson Parkway (Route 53) in Albemarle County, is Central Virginia’s most famous landmark. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from March to October, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through February. Monticello is open every day of the year except Christmas. Admission is $15 for adults; $7 for ages 6-11; $7 for UVa students, Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents; free for children under age 6. Admission is also free for Charlottesville, Albemarle County and UVa students who bring paying guests from out of town. Garden shop is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from March to November. The two Monticello Museum Shops, on the mountaintop and at the Monticello Visitors Center on Route 20, are open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Special events and programs are planned throughout the year and reduced rates are available for adult and youth groups. 984-9822. http://www.monticello.org

Montpelier, home of President James Madison, is on Route 20, 4 miles south of Orange. Home to annual horse races, the 2,700-acre property is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Open daily with tours from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March. $12, $6 for ages 6 through 14, 5 and under free. (540) 672-2728. http://www.montpelier.org

Oak Ridge Estate, at 2300 Oak Ridge Road, near Lovingston, is the elegant home of Thomas Fortune Ryan, a Nelson County native who became one of the richest men in the United States. Now a privately owned estate, it is the setting for Civil War re-enactments, private functions and other events. All tours by appointment. Admission is $10, $9 for senior citizens, $5 for children ages 8-18. Discounts for group tours. 263-8676. http://www.oakridgeestate.com

Old Stone Jail Museum is on U.S. 15 in Palmyra. Open 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. Tours of the jail built in 1828 are available at other times by appointment. Tours also are available by appointment for the historic Fluvanna County Courthouse, which was built in 1830. Admission by donation. 589-7910 or http://www.fluvannahistory.org

Pine Knot was the rustic retreat of President Theodore Roosevelt near Keene in Albemarle County. The cabin is listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Open by appointment only. 286-2722. http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/modern/pineknot.htm

Rapidan Camp, Shenandoah National Park. President Herbert Hoover’s mountain retreat is accessible to hikers. Van tours conducted regularly. (540) 999-3283.

The Rotunda is a landmark at the University of Virginia. Tours of the building Thomas Jefferson designed are offered every day at 10 and 11 a.m. and 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Tours start in the lower east oval room. Free. 924-7969. http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/rotunda

Scottsville Museum, 290 Main St., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and by appointment April through October. Free. 286-2247. http://avenue.org/smuseum

Walton’s Mountain Museum is at 6484 Rockfish River Road, Route 617 in Schuyler, the hometown of Earl Hamner Jr., creator of the Emmy Award-winning series “The Waltons.’’ Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Opens the first Saturday in March and closes the last Sunday in November. Closed Thanksgiving, Easter and last Saturday in September. Admission is $6, $5 seniors and groups of 20 or more. Free for children 5 and younger. 831-2000, http://www.waltonmuseum.org