Northern Neck

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The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland.^[1]

1 History
2 Museums
3 Festivals
4 Tourism
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

Many important historical figures were born on the Northern Neck, including US presidents George Washington, James Madison (Port Conway, Virginia), and James Monroe, as well as the Civil War general Robert E. Lee and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Francis Lightfoot Lee. The region is rich in scenic beauty, with 1100 miles of shoreline containing beaches, marinas, old steamship wharfs and small towns that date back to colonial times. Vegetable and grain farming and a strong seafood industry once ruled the land. During the Colonial period, the Northern Neck was referred to as the "Athens of the New World" because of its collection of rich landowners dedicated to learning and civic duty. Before modern highways, many passenger and freight steamer routes linked the entire Chesapeake Bay region. Today small farms, vineyards and wineries are interspersed with retirement communities and rural businesses that share the land. Since the 1970's winemaking has become an increasingly important vocation in the Northern Neck and the United States, government has established the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace American Viticultural Area as a sanctioned wine appellation for wines grown in the five counties. The Tides Inn in Irvington is a historic resort hotel. Reedville claims to have once been the wealthiest town in the United States, due to its shad fishing industry. Significant portions of the Rappahannock River National Wildlife Refuge lie in the Northern Neck. It is also home to five state parks/natural areas. These include Caledon Natural Area, Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve ^[2], Dameron Marsh Natural area, Westmoreland State Park, and Belle Isle State Park and one national park, the George Washington Birthplace National Monument.

While trying to elude Union cavalry, John Wilkes Booth and David Herold crossed into the Northern Neck in King George County from Maryland on April 21, 1865 after assassinating US president Abraham Lincoln. Booth and Herold landed at the mouth of Gambo Creek, before meeting with Confederate agents, who guided their passage to Port Conway, Virginia, where they would cross into Port Royal, in Caroline County, Virginia.

[edit] Museums

A.T. Johnson High School Museum - one of the first African-American high schools in the Neck, located in Montross
Essex County Museum and Historical Society in Tappahannock - relates Neck history from pre-colonial through today
George Washington Birthplace National Monument documents the life of local George Washington and agricultural practices of the colonial period
Historic Christ Church in Irvington - built in 1735, is one of the best-preserved of colonial Virginia's Anglican parish churches
Kilmarnock Town Museum - local history
Kinsale Museum - local history
Museum at Colonial Beach - local history
Westmoreland County Museum & Library - local history
Richmond County Museum - local history
King George County Historical Society Museum - local history
Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library - honors George Washington's mother Mary in Lancaster
Menokin - home of Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, located in Warsaw
Northern Neck Farm Museum - farming in the area
Reedville Fisherman's Museum - local fishing industry
Steamboat Era Museum - history of steam boats when the rivers were the most important method of transport in Virginia
Stratford Hall Plantation - built in 1730, birthplace of Robert E. Lee, exhibits of his life

There are ten Marinas in the Northern Neck.

[edit] Festivals

In 2004, the Menokin Bluegrass Festival was launched in Richmond County at the ruins of Francis Lightfoot Lee's (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) ancestral home, Menokin. The festival attracts thousands of bluegrass fans every year in a celebration of the Northern Neck's musical and historical heritage. The Richmond County Fair was started in 1889 was dubbed the "biggest Little Fair in the South". It is held the last full week of August in Warsaw. The King George Fall Festival is held the second weekend of October in King George. All proceeds from this event go to support the King George Fire & Rescue. The Fall Festival Committee is made up of representatives from all of the county's community organizations that work together to organize and put on the Fall Festival. Committee meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month at the King George Fire Station. DECA (an Association of Marketing Students) at King George High School is a member of this committee and prepares and serves the Bar-B-Que lunch for this event on Saturday. The Fall Festival also includes a parade through town, a carnival, a craft fair, a dance, and the Fall Festival Queen Pagent. The King George Fall Festival began in October 1959.

[edit] Tourism

In May 2008, Northern Neck Kayak will open and provide guided kayak tours and kayak fishing in the Northern Neck. For the first time, visitors to the area will be able to get a true taste of the waterfront. Soon, a complete guide to kayaking the Northern Neck will be available online for free.