Virginia is a state that boasts plenty of world-famous attractions. From Luray Caverns to the Blue Ridge Mountains, there's no shortage of marvels in the Old Dominion. One such attraction is a bit lesser-known, but just happens to be the largest of its kind in the entire world. A hike up Mill Mountain in Roanoke will lead you to the largest free-standing star on the planet. This man-made attraction illuminates the natural beauty of Roanoke and is well worth the trip. Here's more on your visit to this one-of-a-kind site:
From afar, the 88-foot Roanoke Star may not seem all that large. Yet this structure sits over 1,000 feet above the city and is visible from 60 miles away.
The star was built in 1949, at which point Roanoke was given the name "Star City of the South."
The star was the idea of the Roanoke Merchant's Association, who designed the structure in celebration of the Christmas season. The star immediately gained popularity, and its developers decided to keep the star aglow all year long.
Roughly 2,000 feet of neon tubing gives the Roanoke Star its famous glow. The star is illuminated every night of the year.
Most Virginians are familiar with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a stunning complex that goes both over and under the open seas, connecting Delmarva and Hampton Roads. But, what many don't realize is that it's actually the longest of its kind in the entire world. That's right; there are a handful of other bridge tunnels throughout the planet, but none are as long as the one you'll find here in Virginia. Here's more on why the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia is a marvelous feat of engineering.
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Anyone who has traversed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel never forgets the experience. This 17.6-mile structure takes drivers on an epic journey across the Chesapeake Bay.
The website states that building the complex meant "undertaking a project of more than 12 miles of low-level trestle, two 1-mile tunnels, two bridges, almost 2 miles of causeway, four manmade islands and 5-1/2 miles of approach roads, totaling 23 miles."
Upon opening, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was declared One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World. And it's no mystery why!
Along the route, the water varies from 25 feet to 100 feet deep. For those interested in getting out to explore the scenery, there's a scenic overview along the way.
In fact, it's a popular stop for migrating birds on their route north in the spring or south in the late fall. If you're a birding enthusiast, prepare to be impressed!
So whether you need to get across the Chesapeake Bay or you're simply looking for an epic day trip, you'll be glad you took the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Have you ever driven the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia? What did you think? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments -- we'd love to hear all about your adventures! This amazing road can also be the start of a lovely day trip in Virginia:
The Freemasons have always been a bit of a fascinating mystery to me, and when I discovered the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, I immediately knew I needed to visit for myself. Located just outside downtown Alexandria, Virginia (one of our favorite small towns in Virginia, for the record), this underrated gem is definitely worth visiting for history buffs, architectural enthusiasts, and fans of stellar aerial views.
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Included in the $20 admission cost is an hour-long guided tour where we learned all about the history of the Freemasons. While the building is truly unique, I wouldn’t visit without a guided tour.
While nationally organized Freemasonry began in 1717 with the founding of the Grand Lodge in England, Freemason societies have existed for much longer. Many theorize that Freemasonry emerged from the stonemasonry guilds of the Middle Ages.
Today, freemasonry is a brotherhood committed to lives of character, honor, and integrity. They strive to become the best versions of themselves while caring for their communities through charitable giving and volunteer efforts. In all honesty, it is a much more boring answer than expected, but interesting nonetheless.
The building itself, however, was incredibly impressive. As soon as we opened the door to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, we found ourselves inside Memorial Hall.
Featuring eight green granite columns 40 feet tall and more than four feet wide, as well as an exquisite marble floor and two grand murals on either side, the hall was truly jaw-dropping. At the center was a colossal statue of George Washington wearing his Masonic regalia.
Inspired by the lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt – one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World – the memorial’s design is reminiscent of the classical architecture in Greece and Rome.
The memorial was added to the United State’s official list of National Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 20215 – the 262nd anniversary of George Washington’s raising as a Master Mason in Fredericksburg in 1753.
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Once our tour began, we were given a brief introduction to the history of freemasonry as well as George Washington’s involvement before heading into the Replica Lodge Room of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, which mimics the old meeting room that existed on the second floor of the City Hall for more than 140 years.
In addition to replica lodge furniture and fascinating masonic artifacts is a famous portrait of George Washington painted by William Joseph Williams, said to be one of the most accurate depictions of Washington in existence.
From there, we headed upstairs, where we discovered The Family of Freemasonry Exhibit on the third level and the George Washington Museum on the fourth level.
Here, we learned about the unique organizations that are a part of the Freemason umbrella – including the Shriners – as well as the personal history of George Washington and several artifacts from Mount Vernon donated by Washington’s descendants, plus information on the memorial's architecture.
Last up was the ninth-floor Observation Deck, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of Alexandra, D.C., the Chesapeake Bay, and the surrounding region.
There’s little I love more than a picturesque view, and the outdoor observation deck certainly provided endless views – I loved that you could see all of Alexandria and several D.C. monuments, including the Washington Monument.
I could have spent hours admiring the view, but unfortunately, our official tour had ended, and we needed to return to the first floor.
After the official tour, we meandered through the building by ourselves, exploring various meeting rooms, an exhibit on the origins of freemasonry, and the theater.
As a self-proclaimed theater kid, the grand theater was easily my favorite room in the building, with seating for 400 and sixteen gold-veined Missouri marble columns as well as 14 bronze plaques depicting the United States Presidents that were Freemasons – I personally had no idea how many influential politicians were Freemasons.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the George Washington Masonic National Memorial website. Have you ever experienced this unique architectural gem for yourself? Do you have an interest in visiting yourself? Did you have preconceived notions about Freemasonry in America?
