We visited the VMI Museum, largely to see some "new" Stonewall Jackson artifacts relating to the 150th anniversary of his wounding and death. The VMI Museum is small and worthwhile, and the displays include a mock-up of a VMI dormroom, an impressively-displayed collection of guns, and purple hearts from VMI soldiers. The museum's gift shop is the best in Lexington featuring VMI gear, souvenir Christmas ornaments, and books. On each visit, Kim makes it a special point to remember Josh Hurley, a friend from the Alleghany High School Class of 1997, who was among the first soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the current war.
From the VMI campus, it's an easy walk to Washington and Lee, also a lovely campus. The Lee Chapel and Museum chronicles parts of university history and even boasts a small gift shop, but the beautiful grounds may be the main attraction. On the date of our visit, there were two weddings; if you are making a special trip to see the interior of the chapel, be sure to call ahead to check the schedule. Justin and Elijah went in search of a smaller historical collection housed in the university's administration building, but we found ourselves locked out on the weekend.
When in Lexington, remember to walk--simply park at the Lexington Visitor's Center for free, take a minute to orient yourself to the area by viewing their excellent selection of information on regional attractions, and walk where you wish downtown. Both of the museums mentioned here are free to visit, and it is easy to "add on" a visit to the Stonewall Jackson House. We recommend strolling over to The Bookery, a crowded bookstore in which we've found some history texts and local features. It's easy to find ice cream to enjoy while you walk, and there's a Macado's for sandwiches.
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