Virginia

Can you feel the warm sand between your toes. Look way, way up at the tall, blue mountains that touch the sky. I have big, green forests and rivers that sparkle in the sun. It is a wonderful place to explore. I am a special place, and my name is Virginia.

My very first friends were the Powhatan people. They loved my forests and rivers and knew all their secrets. They were very happy here. A long, long time ago, on May 13th, 1607, new visitors came across the big ocean in boats. These were English settlers. They built a new town and called it Jamestown. The Powhatan people were kind and helped their new neighbors. They showed them how to grow yummy corn and find food in the forest so everyone could have enough to eat.

As I got older, I watched many children grow up to be helpers and leaders. One of them was named George Washington. He helped start a whole new country, the United States of America. It was a very happy day. That special day was July 4th, 1776. It was a time for big, happy ideas and new beginnings for everyone.

Today, I am still here and full of fun. Families come to visit me. You can splash in my ocean waves and build sandcastles on my beaches. You can hike on my mountain trails and listen to the birds sing. I am a place for everyone who loves adventure and learning about the past. Come and play anytime. I will be waiting for you.