Landscapes of Virginia | Virginia Museum of History & Culture
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Immerse yourself in Virginia's history by visiting one of our exhibitions.

 

The Story of Virginia
Virginia Museum of History & Culture @VirginiaMuseum
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30 Nov
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Landscapes of Virginia

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The Passing Storm, Shenandoah Valley by Alexis Fournier

The geography of Virginia has shaped the history of the state and the nation. A mild climate and navigable rivers attracted Native Americans and the first European settlers to the Tidewater. Fertile soil fueled a prosperous economy, and the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers that feed it connected Virginia and its agricultural products to the world. The landscapes of the Piedmont, Valley, and Blue Ridge inspired Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a virtuous rural society. Virginia’s importance and location midway between North and South brought the federal capital to the banks of the Potomac and made it the bloodiest battleground of the Civil War. The harbor of Hampton Roads allowed military buildup in the twentieth century and the export of coal and lumber from both southwestern counties of the Valley and the Appalachian Plateau. Geography continues to play a pivotal role in Virginia’s politics, society, and economy.

The twenty-one landscape paintings featured in Landscapes of Virginia reveal the variety of terrain and climate that characterizes Virginia’s five distinct physical regions: the Coastal Plain (Tidewater), the Piedmont, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Valley and the Ridge, and the Appalachian Plateau.

This exhibition is generously supported by the Elis Olsson Memorial Foundation and the Robins Foundation.

 

Explore the exhibition by taking a 360-degree virtual tour below. 

 

Potomac Marsh by Max Weyl Enter Fullscreen More information
Potomac Marsh by Max Weyl
Potomac Marsh, about 1900 Max Weyl Purchased with funds provided by Lora M. Robins 1997.178
Afternoon, Hawks Bill River, Blue Ridge Mountains by John Ross Key Enter Fullscreen More information
Afternoon, Hawks Bill River, Blue Ridge Mountains by John Ross Key
Afternoon, Hawks Bill River, Blue Ridge Mountains, about 1908. John Ross Key Purchases with funds provided by Lora M. Robins 1998.91
Washington's House, Mount Vernon by Victor de Grailly Enter Fullscreen More information
Washington's House, Mount Vernon by Victor de Grailly
Washington's House, Mount Vernon, about 1845 Victor de Grailly Purchased with funds provided by Lora M. Robins 1994.116.2
Virginia Scene by Richard Norris Brooke Enter Fullscreen More information
Virginia Scene by Richard Norris Brooke
Virginia Scene, about 1910 Richard Norris Brooke Purchased with funds provided by Lora M. Robins 1996.28.6
Landscape with Cattle by Pierre Daura Enter Fullscreen More information
Landscape with Cattle by Pierre Daura
Landscape with Cattle, about 1935 Pierre Daura Gift of Martha Randolph Daura 2001.737.1
The Passing Storm,Shenandoah Valley by Alexis Fournier Enter Fullscreen More information
The Passing Storm,Shenandoah Valley by Alexis Fournier
The Passing Storm, Shenandoah Valley, 1924 Alexis Fournier Purchases with funds provided by Lora M. Robins 1996.172.2
Potomac Marsh by Max Weyl
Potomac Marsh by Max Weyl
Afternoon, Hawks Bill River, Blue Ridge Mountains by John Ross Key
Afternoon, Hawks Bill River, Blue Ridge Mo
Washington's House, Mount Vernon by Victor de Grailly
Washington's House, Mount Vernon by V
Virginia Scene by Richard Norris Brooke
Virginia Scene by Richard Norris Brooke
Landscape with Cattle by Pierre Daura
Landscape with Cattle by Pierre Daura
The Passing Storm,Shenandoah Valley by Alexis Fournier
The Passing Storm,Shenandoah Valley by Ale

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The museum entrance may be impacted by construction. Click here for up-to-date information about where to enter the building.

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