LakeAnna 2017/2018

day trips|madison county
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN BERRY
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN BERRY PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN BERRY
Madison County
With thousands of beautiful
acres of land, scenic
hiking trails, unique
shops, restaurants,
several wineries and rich history,
Madison County is truly a special place
to—as the locals say—“ride, hike, taste,
stay and shop.” Speaking of history,
2017 marks Madison’s 225th Birthday.
Bald Top Brewing Co. (where history
meets hops) opened in December
and is Virginia’s first Historic Farm
Brewery. Hebron Lutheran Church, the
oldest operating Lutheran Church in
continuous use in the United States,
celebrates its 300th this year with a
special service April 30.
The county is named after the Madison
family that owned a large territory of land along
the Rapidan River. One of the descendants
from this family is none other than James
Madison, one of our nation’s earliest presidents,
whose estate, known as Montpelier, still resides
in the neighboring Orange County.
Along with President Madison, several other
historical figures have spent time in Madison
County, such as the Paleo-Indians, General
Stonewall Jackson and the royal governor
Alexander Spotswood. But that’s not all the
history that occurred in the county. President
Herbert Hoover once purchased land in the
mountain area of Madison where he built his
summer camp.
The reason so many significant people have
made their mark in Madison is because of
its convenient location. Trails and roads are
placed throughout the Piedmont area of the
county leading up to the famous Blue Ridge
Mountains, which led 18th and 19th century
travelers to the Shenandoah Valley. At the time,
this area was known as the breadbasket of the
Confederacy during the Civil War and was used
as a back door for Confederate raids.
Because so much history has taken place
in Madison, there are plenty of destinations
throughout the area that share, preserve and
portray all that has occurred over the decades.
Both walking and driving tours are offered
in Madison, giving a special insight on the
town and its place in history while strolling
down Main Street or driving through the
scenic Route 231. You will also find several
historical buildings, many of which are found
in Downtown, that you can journey through
during a self-guided tour. Or take an afternoon
to discover all there is to know about the
history behind the Madison County Court
House building.
Located just a few miles from Madison
County is The Graves Mill Historical Park,
which offers a unique glimpse into the past,
commemorating the significance and history of
the Village of Graves Mill. The park is home to
a stone memorial and bronze plaque honoring
the 40 Virginian men who served during the
72 LAKE ANNA GUIDE | 2017/2018