With about 50,000 visitors a year, the Valentine and other history attractions are struggling to reach beyond their base and match the attendance of other tourist draws. In April, for example, Boston pediatrician Bettye Kearse and other descendants of slaves at Montpelier, James Madison's home, will gather for a reunion event. Now dozens of Montpelier slave descendants are expected, and former Gov. Doug Wilder, a grandson of slaves, will address the gathering. McCleary adds that while most history and heritage venues are small, the combined number of visitors to such attractions would easily outweigh those of any other category of attractions. The Virginia Tourism Corp.'s Vail agrees.
History is one of Virginia's strongest selling points.
We really weave that throughout everything we do. She adds that history and heritage tourism increasingly appeals to time-starved families seeking shorter and more enriching outings. After all, the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War arrives in 2011. Use of this website is subject to certain terms and conditions . We may collect personal information on this site, as described in our privacy policy.