Northern Neck 352822 225417940 2008-07-13T16:08:16Z Skimaniac 6639652 /* Tourism */ <div style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;">[[Image:Map of Virginia highlighting Northern Neck.png]]</div> The '''Northern Neck''' is the northernmost of three [[peninsula]]s on the western shore of the [[Chesapeake Bay]] in the [[Commonwealth of Virginia]]. This peninsula is bounded by the [[Potomac River]] on the north and the [[Rappahannock River]] on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: [[Lancaster County, Virginia|Lancaster]], [[Northumberland County, Virginia|Northumberland]], [[Richmond County, Virginia|Richmond]], and [[Westmoreland County, Virginia|Westmoreland]].<ref> http://www.northernneck.com</ref> The inclusion of King George county in the Northern Neck varies among commentators. Historically the grant for the Northern Neck included all land between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers icluding far upstream of King George. Traditionally references in the last 100 years have not included King George as a part of the Northern Neck but some current tourism material includes King George in the Neck. But as a counter to this, the boundaries of King George and Westmoreland Counties have changed radically since their establishment with significant exchanges of territory. Significant portions of the early King George lay in what is now Westmoreland county.<ref> King George County Courthouse Wall Map</ref> As the Washington and Fredericksburg corridors have urbanized in the last 50 years, King George has become more culturally aligned with the Nothern Neck. This has lead to some people including it in the region. At the very least, King George Country is the Gateway to the Northern Neck if not an actual member. ==History== Many important historical figures were born on the Northern Neck, including US presidents [[George Washington ]] (Westmoreland), [[James Madison]] ([[Port Conway, Virginia]] King George), and [[James Monroe]] (Westmoreland), as well as the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] general [[Robert E. Lee]] and signer of the Declaration of Independence, [[Francis Lightfoot Lee]]. The region is rich in scenic beauty, with 1100 miles of shoreline containing beaches, marinas, old steamship wharfs and small towns that date back to colonial times. Vegetable and grain farming and a strong seafood industry once ruled the land. During the Colonial period, the Northern Neck was referred to as the "Athens of the New World" because of its collection of rich landowners dedicated to learning and civic duty.<ref> George Washington Birthplace National Monument Introduction Film </ref> This of course was made possible because of the slave economy in place at that time. Reedville claims to have once been the wealthiest town in the United States, due to its [[shad]] fishing industry. Before modern highways, many passenger and freight [[steamboat|steamer]] routes linked the entire Chesapeake Bay region. During th Civil War, Northern Neck and in particularly King George County were on the frontier between the Union and Confederate Armies. As such King George was a operating base for spies on both sides. The Union forces controlled the Potomac river and the north shore of the Rappahanock further upstream for much of the war. While trying to elude Union cavalry, John Wilkes Booth and David Herold crossed into the Northern Neck in King George County from Maryland on April 21, 1865 after assassinating US president Abraham Lincoln. Booth and Herold landed at the mouth of Gambo Creek, before meeting with Confederate agents, who guided their passage to [[Port Conway, Virginia]], where they would cross into Port Royal, in Caroline County, Virginia. Colonial Beach which a small town in Westmoreland County located on the Potomac Waterfront was a popular tourist spot for the people of the Washington area. It offered a beach, swimming, and gambling. The gambling facilities were actually built into the Potomac so as to ensure they were inside Maryland. With the end of gambling, Colonial Beach declined in popularity as a tourist destination. Though it and the rest of the Northern Neck continue to attract dedicated outdoor enthusiasts for fishing and boating. ==Geography== Today small [[farms]], [[vineyards]] and [[wineries]] are interspersed with retirement communities and rural businesses that share the land. Since the 1970's winemaking has become an increasingly important vocation in the Northern Neck and the [[United States]], government has established the [[Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA|Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace]] [[American Viticultural Area]] as a sanctioned wine [[appellation]] for [[wine]]s grown in the five counties. Significant portions of the Rappahannock River National Wildlife Refuge lie in the Northern Neck. It is also home to five state parks/natural areas. These include Caledon Natural Area, Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve <ref> Town & County Magazine January 26, 2008</ref>, Dameron Marsh Natural area, Westmoreland State Park, and Belle Isle State Park and one national park, the [[George Washington Birthplace National Monument]]. ==Museums== * [http://www.northernneck.org/attractions.htm A.T. Johnson High School Museum] - one of the first African-American high schools in the Neck, located in Montross * [http://www.essexmuseum.org/ Essex County Museum and Historical Society] in [[Tappahannock]] - relates Neck history from pre-colonial through today * [[George Washington Birthplace National Monument]] documents the life of local George Washington and agricultural practices of the colonial period * [[Christ Church (Lancaster County, Virginia)|Historic Christ Church]] in [[Irvington, Virginia|Irvington]] - built in 1735, is one of the best-preserved of colonial Virginia's Anglican parish churches * [http://www.townofkilmarnockva.com/museum.asp Kilmarnock Town Museum] - local history * [http://kinsalefoundation.org/ Kinsale Museum] - local history * [http://web.mac.com/alleynedickens1/Museum/Museum_at_Colonial_Beach.html Museum at Colonial Beach] - local history * [http://www.westmoreland-county.org/muindex.htm Westmoreland County Museum & Library] - local history * [http://www.co.richmond.va.us/museum.htm Richmond County Museum] - local history * [http://www.kghistory.org/ King George County Historical Society Museum] - local history * [[Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library]] - honors George Washington's mother Mary in Lancaster * [[Menokin]] - home of Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, located in Warsaw * [http://www.nnfarmmuseum.org/ Northern Neck Farm Museum] - farming in the area * [[Reedville Fisherman's Museum]] - local fishing industry * [http://www.steamboateramuseum.org/ Steamboat Era Museum] - history of steam boats when the rivers were the most important method of transport in Virginia * [[Stratford Hall Plantation]] - built in 1730, birthplace of Robert E. Lee, exhibits of his life ==Festivals== In 2004, the Menokin Bluegrass Festival was launched in [[Richmond County, Virginia|Richmond County]] at the ruins of [[Francis Lightfoot Lee|Francis Lightfoot Lee's]] (a signer of the [[Declaration of Independence]]) ancestral home, Menokin. The festival attracts thousands of [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] fans every year in a celebration of the Northern Neck's musical and historical heritage. The Richmond County Fair was started in 1889 was dubbed the "biggest Little Fair in the South". It is held the last full week of August in Warsaw. The King George Fall Festival is held the second weekend of October in King George. All proceeds from this event go to support the King George Fire & Rescue. The Fall Festival Committee is made up of representatives from all of the county's community organizations that work together to organize and put on the Fall Festival. Committee meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month at the King George Fire Station. DECA (an Association of Marketing Students) at King George High School is a member of this committee and prepares and serves the Bar-B-Que lunch for this event on Saturday. The Fall Festival also includes a parade through town, a carnival, a craft fair, a dance, and the Fall Festival Queen Pagent. The King George Fall Festival began in October 1959. ==Tourism== The Northern Neck draws many tourists seeking natural beauty and a quality outdoor experience. It offers outstanding fishing, hunting, boating, and is reknown for both its historical attractions and seafood. Colonial Beach remains a primary tourism draw for those interested in fishing, boating, and yachting. There are ten Marinas in the Northern Neck. [[The Tides Inn]] in Irvington is a historic resort hotel. ''Northern Neck Kayak'' provides guided kayak tours and kayak fishing in the Northern Neck. For the first time, visitors to the area will be able to get a true taste of the waterfront. ==See also== * [[Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== http://www.nnpdc.org http://www.northernneck.us http://www.northernneck.org http://www.menokinbluegrass.com http://www.nnkkayak.com http://www.northernneckforums.com {{Virginia}} [[Category:Peninsulas of Virginia]] [[Category:Regions of Virginia]] [[Category:King George County, Virginia]] [[Category:Westmoreland County, Virginia]] [[Category:Northumberland County, Virginia]] [[Category:Lancaster County, Virginia]] [[Category:Richmond County, Virginia]] [[Category:Northern Neck]]