The great majority of the South's plantation homes have been destroyed over time, and many have long been forgotten. In Lost Plantations of the South, Marc R. Matrana weaves together photographs, diaries and letters, architectural renderings, and other rare documents to tell the story of sixty of these vanquished estates and the people who once called them home. From plantations that were destroyed by natural disaster such as Alabama's Forks of Cypress, to those that were intentionally demolished such as Seven Oaks in Louisiana and Mount Brilliant in Kentucky, Matrana resurrects these lost mansions. Including plantations throughout the South as well as border states, Matrana carefully tracks the histories of each from the earliest days of construction to the often contentious struggles to preserve these irreplaceable historic treasures. Lost Plantations of the South explores the root causes of demise and provides understanding and insight on how lessons learned in these sad losses can help prevent future preservation crises. Capturing the voices of masters and mistresses alongside those of slaves, and featuring more than one hundred elegant archival illustrations, this book explores the powerful and complex histories of these cardinal homes across the South.

This abundantly illustrated, wide-ranging volume captures the rich and diverse architectural history of Rockbridge County, Virginia, including the two cities of Lexington and Buena Vista. While recent books have documented the area's social history, this book fills a long-recognized void by tracing the area's architectural heritage, from the eighteenth century to the post-World War II period. Beginning with early log and stone structures on what was once Virginia's frontier, the discussion moves on to the brick construction of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that produced some of the finest Federal homes in the Valley of Virginia. The book covers the many styles that would follow, often with their own vernacular interpretation. T he Architecture of Historic Rockbridge is an enormously useful companion to The Architecture of Historic Lexington, itself an invaluable resource now for forty years. Including discussions of towns, schools, churches, resorts, and industrial buildings, the new volume will satisfy the scholarly, while presenting architectural analysis in an engaging manner accessible to a general readership. The book is richly illustrated throughout, with over two hundred color and black-and-white photographs (including the work of internationally recognized photographer Sally Mann), line drawings, and historic maps. Distributed for the Historic Lexington Foundation

For anyone interested in learning about or creating an authentic Colonial-style home, Bob Vila collaborator Hugh Howard provides a tour of selected Colonial Williamsburg classic homes. Floor plans & full-color photos.

The Virginia Landmarks Register, fourth edition, will create for the reader a deeper awareness of a unique legacy and will serve to enhance the stewardship of Virginia's irreplaceable heritage.

A record of historic houses by towns and states.