Almost half the collection is British based, dazzling dress uniforms of the British Dragoons, Hussars, and Lancers stand at attention next to bandsmen’s uniforms from each of the five regiments of foot guards of the Household Division, more commonly known as the Life Guards. You may recognize the “Beefeater” regalia on a 1936 Yeoman Warder’s uniform designed for the men who guard the Crown Jewels located in the Tower of London.

Visitors won’t be disappointed with the abundance of American military uniforms and paraphernalia gathered from all branches of the U.S. military. The museum carries a few Civil War items, including an original Union artilleryman’s jacket.

The collection was the lifelong work of one man – the late Ronald V. J. Mountain. Mr. Mountain died in 1996 at age 68, and his wife, Pat, continues to run the museum. She is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic steward for this collection, and she’s happy to answer your questions.

DIRECTIONS

Take exit #191, this will put you on I-64 for 1 mile. Take exit #55 off I-64. Follow Rt. 11 south. As you go over the Maury River Bridge Rt. 11 will split. Merge to the right (Rt. 11 Business). As you come into downtown Lexington Rt. 11 will turn into Jefferson Street. Follow Jefferson Street to the end where it meets White Street Turn left on White Street and then turn left on Main Street. The Military Memorabilia Museum is on the right.

From I-64, take exit #55. Follow Rt. 11 south. As you go over the Maury River Bridge, Rt. 11 will split. Merge to the right (Rt. 11 Business). As you come into downtown Lexington Rt. 11 will turn into Jefferson Street. Follow Jefferson Street to the end where it meets White Street. Turn left on White Street and then turn left on Main Street. The Military Memorabilia Museum is on the right.

The street address is 122 1/2 South Main Street, down the brick walkway next to the Lexington Presbyterian Church. Visit the Lexington Web page about this museum to learn more about hours and phone contact.

IMAGES

The image at top, from the London Daily Times, shows a line of Yeomen Warders in traditional uniform. The second smaller image, from the BBC News, shows a happy Queen Mother inspecting her Beefeaters. The Beefeaters date back to 1485 when King Henry VII formed a bodyguard. The news story for this link talked about the first female Yeoman Warder in history slated to join the troops. Read more about the 42-year-old Scottish woman who took her post in September 2007 as she wore the traditional dress of a scarlet and gold tunic, white ruff, red stockings and black patent leather shoes. The official title of a Yeoman Warder is, ‘Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard and Yeoman Guard Extraordinary’. Phew!

General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, 144 Confederate veterans, Revolutionary War veterans, two Virginia governors (John Letcher and James McDowell) and Margaret Junkin Preston, the Civil War Poet Laureate of the South and wife of Colonel J. T. L. Preston – one of the founders of VMI, also are buried here. Other notables interred at this cemetery include John Mercer Brooke, the designer of the ironclad ship C.S.S. Virginia (known by its former name, Merrimack); General William N. Pendleton, Lee’s Chief of artillery, and early presidents of Washington College and Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

An informational marker posted just inside the main gate to this cemeter6 lists many of famous and interesting people buried in the cemetery and locates their graves. The statue of Stonewall Jackson was sculpted by Edward V. Valentine and dedicated July 21, 1891. Jackson and his family are buried beneath the statue. While in Lexington, you can also visit Edward Virginius Valentine’s other works. He sculpted the Robert E. Lee memorial in Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In a successful artistic career that spanned 50 years, Edward Valentine worked in clay, plaster, marble and bronze to produce portrait busts, ideal figures and monumental public sculpture.

The image above illustrates Lee “on a last visit to Stonewall Jackson’s grave.” See the original at Wikipedia.

While you can enjoy a local restaurant before a show, and relax at a local B&B after a show, it’s the venue that will appeal most to historians. The story about the Lime Kiln history is as fascinating as any play.

The original owner of this property, A. T Barclay, helped to create the city of Buena Vista by luring a paper business to that town. As a promise to that business, Barclay stated that he could supply lime, a caustic substance produced by heating limestone and that was used in the paper manufacturing process. From the site:

Barclay’s farm was rich in limestone, which had been quarried in small quantities for years. In 1896, four years after the paper mill opened in Buena Vista, Barclay and two partners started the Rockbridge Stone and Lime Company on Barclay’s farm. About a dozen buildings, including a barrel shop and three large kilns, were erected. However, Barclay neglected to pay royalties to his sisters who owned one-third interest in the land. In short order they sued, and won. He lost direct control of the company and it was sold soon after. After Barclay died [1915], the lease was not renewed and the buildings were taken down or rotted away. The kilns fell into ruin.

The kilns remained basically unused until 1984, when the first production of the new professional company was a two-week run of Rock Kiln Ruin’s Tale of Cymbeline. It was “Shakespeare with a twang,” one newspaper remarked, but the first season was a success. From then, original musicals and plays presented at The Kiln based on Southern Appalachian heritage; adaptations of Appalachian folktales that went on tour to schools and communities both in and out of Virginia; and a renowned concert series that features legendary musicians and an eclectic mix of musical styles have graced the limestone stages.

In winter, the Troubadour in downtown Lexington hosts a series in an intimate setting. Theater at Lime Kiln is a non-profit organization supported in part by a number of organizations and foundations including the National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, the City of Lexington, Rockbridge County, and numerous business and individual contributors. Visit the site to learn more about ticket prices, dates and hours, and directions.

Established in 1985, the Carriage company’s initial purpose was to support the Historic Downtown District of the city by giving narrated tours through the business district, the adjacent college campuses, and a portion of the historic residential area. Over the years, LLC has evolved and expanded its operation to include areas of the Shenandoah Valley and beyond by participating in local parades, and providing carriage rides for festivals and special seasonal events. Some of those events include: Lexington Caroling & Tree Lighting, Lexington Chocolate Festival, Downtown Roanoke Dickens of a Christmas, and Lynchburg Holiday Traditions. Lexington Carriage tours take about one hour or less, and do not make stops along the way for you to debark.

The tours are narrated by professional drivers/guides. Carriage tours begin at the Lexington Visitor Center at 106 East Washington Street, and operate daily from April 1 through October except during inclement weather. Group tours are available by appointment. LCC has been delighted to have hosted many brides, grooms and their wedding parties; numerous couples who have become engaged while on a private tour as well as birthday and anniversary celebrants. Visit the Lexington Carriage Company site for more information, including details on how to book for special events.