Rob's Historic Sites

While in Richmond, Virginia this past weekend I visited the Triple Crossing which is the only place in America where three different railroads cross over one another at the same spot. I first learned about it from old postcards, but it has been a popular attraction for train enthusiasts for over 100 years. Triple Crossing began back in 1853, was an important rail line during the unCivil War, and is still in use today. I included photo op photos and old postcards showing 3 trains passing at the same time along with photos I just took. ADDITIONAL READING: Triple Crossing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crossing| American Rails Triple Crossing: https://www.american-rails.com/triple-crossing.html

This week in history, the world’s first battle between ironclads occurred when the CSS Virginia battled the USS Monitor at the Battle of Hampton Roads on the southern Virginia coastline. The epic 2 day battle on March 8-9, 1862 received worldwide attention and marked a new age in naval warfare for the entire world. Great Britain and France immediately halted construction of wooden-hulled ships and others followed suit. Battlefield.org explains: In an attempt to end the blockade on their ports, “on March 8, [Confederate] Virginia steamed down the Elizabeth River into the roadstead where it sank USS Cumberland and ran USS Congress aground and set it afire. The Virginia retired, intending to sink other ships the next day. That evening, the new Union ironclad USS Monitor arrived to protect the wooden fleet. The Monitor mounted only two guns but they were placed inside a revolutionary revolving turret. The next morning, Monitor and Virginia met in the first engagement of ironclads in ...

This is the oldest continuous Protestant church/parish in America. St Johns Episcopal Church in Hampton, Virginia was founded in 1610 less than 3 years after the first settlement was established in nearby Jamestown. This 4th building was erected in 1728 with 2-foot thick walls which helped it survive extensive damage inflicted during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and unCivil War. The 1618 Communion Silver used today is the longest continuously used church silver in America. Needless to say, some of the earliest colonists in America and Revolutionary war vets are buried in this graveyard. Near the front door is a 20-foot monument with the inscription “Our Confederate Dead”, dedicated as a memorial to the 145 local American military veterans buried there. Included are photos of the church from both my visit and century old historic postcards. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ADDITIONAL READING: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_Episcop...