Tidewater lies east of the fall line of the Virginia rivers that flow into the Chesapeake--a definition that dates back to colonial times. Much of what we know of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Tidewater comes from the writings of Captain John Smith, William Byrd II and Thomas Jefferson. The Virginia of Smith, Byrd and Jefferson remains, in part, our Virginia. Geography and place names are largely the same. Their accounts of what they saw, where they traveled, what's in bloom and what's ready for harvest will sound very familiar. Read their words, paired with photographer and author Bryan Hatchett's stunning photographs of Tidewater landscapes and landmarks, and experience the continuity as well as the change that time has brought to this very special place.

Exploring the significance of places that built our cultural past, this guide is a lens into historical sites spanning the entire history of the United States, from Acoma Pueblo to Ground Zero. Historic Sites and Landmarks That Shaped America: From Acoma Pueblo to Ground Zero encompasses more than 200 sites from the earliest settlements to the present, covering a wide variety of locations. It includes concise yet detailed entries on each landmark that explain its importance to the nation. With entries arranged alphabetically according to the name of the site and the state in which it resides, this work covers both obscure and famous landmarks to demonstrate how a nation can grow and change with the creation or discovery of important places. The volume explores the ways different cultures viewed, revered, or even vilified these sites. It also examines why people remember such places more than others. Accessible to both novice and expert readers, this well-researched guide will appeal to anyone from high school students to general adult readers.

Settlers to Fox Hill, on the edge of the Virginia's gateway to the Chesapeake Bay, arrived as early as 1625. The name is believed to have been derived from the numerous fox dens in the sand of local beaches and was originally spelled Foxeshill. Early pioneers worked in small countryside farms, mostly growing the profitable tobacco, which soon allowed for larger, more profitable, plantations. In the early 1800s, a large number of Methodist families settled in the region, leaving a lasting impression that can be seen today. Fisherman and boat builders also immigrated into the area. Fox Hill soon became a thriving and prosperous community in Elizabeth City County. Beginning shortly before 1900, the white sand and waters of the Atlantic drew many to Grandview Beach, a location that became widely known as one of Virginia's best summer resort destinations. A boat house and dance pavilion were constructed in the ensuing decades, although they were later destroyed by a powerful 1930s hurricane. The site was later rebuilt, only to be torn down again by Hurricane Hazel in 1954.