2006 Eastern Conference

Attractions on the Way

Roanoke is the furthest south we have ever ventured for an Eastern Conference, and is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. People traveling to the Roanoke Conference by car can see a range of interesting historic sites along the way in Virginia. Among the numerous colonial and historic sites are many interesting timber framed structures that are open to the public. Here are the names of sites and links to web pages that have been pointed out to me by members.

• Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville www.monticello.org/
• Poplar Forest, octagonal retreat designed by Thomas Jefferson in Bedford County near Lynchburg http://www.poplarforest.org/visi.html
• University of Virginia in Charlottesville www.virginia.edu
• Montpelier, home of James Madison in Orange www.montpelier.org
• Humpback Bridge in Covington: On the National Register of Historic Places, the wooden covered bridge was built in 1857, the fourth at that location. It is quite striking in its appearance: 100' span, 4' camber, wonderfully executed square rule framing with many tapered members. It is the only single span 100' wooden arched covered bridge in Virginia, possibly in the U.S. www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/faq-covbridge5.asp
  
  Bridge photos: courtesy http://www.virginia.org

• Meems Bottom Bridge in Shenandoah County: the longest remaining covered bridge in Virginia, it is a single-span Burr arch truss bridge constructed in 1892-93. www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/faq-covbridge1.asp

• Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton hosted a TTRAG Conference a few years ago. www.frontiermuseum.org
• Chateau Morrisette Winery on the Blue Ridge Parkway with its fabulous timber frame built by Blue Ridge Timberwrights. Open to the public 7 days a week. Check their website for hours and directions. http://www.chateaumorrisette.com
Virginia Museum of Transportation (a short walk from the hotel): www.vmt.org