Historic Shrines of Virginia

When the city OF NORFOLK entertained the American Society of Civil Engineers in April, 1931, I was invited by the local chapter to outline some of the points of interest to be found on a trip through Virginia which had been planned for the special entertainment of the guests of the City. In response to this invitation, I read to the Society a paper, illustrated by lantern slides, giving a running description of thirty-five Virginia shrines that might be visited on such an excursion. So many requests have been received for copies of that paper that the State Commission on Conservation and Development decided that it should be printed. The paper was turned over to our state historian, H. J. Eckenrode, by whom it has been somewhat enlarged and checked as to accuracy of dates and statements. It is to be hoped that this book, dealing with some of the best-known shrines in Virginia- places that everyone has heard about- will be followed in future years by other publications giving information of many other ancient Virginia houses not yet known to the public or adequately described. One of the main tasks undertaken bythe History Division of the Commission on Conservation and Development is a photographic survey of the old houses of the State, including old houses of which nothing is now known as well as the famous homes. The gathering of information about such of these old houses as have any history in records or tradition is an accompanying labor. It is believed that scores, if not hundreds, of old places, now unknown to the world, will eventually be brought to the attention of the reading public. A much enlarged Old Virginia will emerge from this process. We take pleasure in dedicating the booklet, "Historic Shrines of Virginia," to the engineers and architects of America, and' more particularly to the American Society of Civil Engineers.