Here you will find logs and images of my journeys throughout Virginia.

Edge Cities
Travels Around the Campus of GMU
The Shenandoah Valley
Talkin' About Trash
Edges of Virginia
Roanoke
Neabsco Iron Works
Tobacco Towns

Edge Cities

Charlie in Gainsville Charlie Charlie at railroad tracks Charlie at historic court house

One day as I was stuck in traffic in Tyson's Corner Virginia, I started to think about what area of Virginia could become the next Tyson's Corner, with its congestion and huge office buildings. Most people today don't realize that up until the 1960's Tyson's Corner was little more than a corner gas station. Now it is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. Many construction developer's careers have hinged on finding the next "boomtown" and many have gone bust trying. So what area of Virginia is the next Tyson's Corner? Tune in and find out. back to top

 

 

Travels Around the Campus of GMU

Charlie in GMU-TV's Studio Charlie using a hight tech device to explain the Geography of Virginia Charlie in the trees Charlie teaching

Geography is everywhere, not just in maps or textbooks. The best way to get a basic understanding of where you are in geography is to start in your own back yard. Most Virginian's back yards contain leaves, plants, and animals that are truly unique to the climate of Virginia. Most of these backyards have been developed to create an environment that is totally different from the one that John Smith first saw when he landed on the shores of Jamestown. In this module I trek around the campus of George Mason University to show you geography close to home. back to top

 

 

The Shenandoah Valley

Charlie at the Shenandoah Valley Charlie explaining how fires have helped the valley Charlie talking about the Knights of the Golden Horseshoes Charlie in the weeds

The Shenandoah Valley still holds to its rock-ridged conservative ideals while slowly but surely becoming modernized. The Shenandoah River, with its limestone bedding, has attracted a Coors Brewing Company. Every time I travel through the valley I enjoy the scenic view, while thinking about how General Stonewall Jackson wreaked havoc on those Yankees. The valley is unique and historic and one of my favorite places to travel. Won't you join me? back to top

 

 

Talkin' About Trash

Charlie at the dump Charlie talkin' trash Charlie at the Dump Charlie at the Dump

Many years ago, the city of Manassas and Prince William County had a mutual agreement that they both benefited from. What's so weird about that? Many cities and counties have agreements, but this agreement involved a secret profit-making industry here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Trash. Yes, those big trash trucks you see screaming down I- 95 everyday aren't usually coming from somewhere in Virginia, they're being sent down from New York. Trash has now become a political as well as economic issue. So tune into this journey and learn how one state's waste has become another state's fortune. back to top

 

 

Edges of Virginia

Charlie at a Virginia edge Charlie in the trees Charlie at the Washington, DC border Charlie on the Potomac

Do you know how many states border Virginia? Each edge or border of Virginia has its own unique geography and history. In this journey we not only look at each edge of Virginia, but also discuss the historical significance of how Virginia actually got its borders. back to top

 

 

Roanoke

Charlie at the Roanoke Star Charlie at the Roanoke River Charlie at a Caboose Charlie on the caboose

We here at George Mason University, or should I say we here in Northern Virginia, quite often forget that there is more to Virginia than the northern part of the state. Roanoke started as a railroad town, then became dependent on the milling industry, and now is reinventing itself by attracting the best facilities that modern medicine has to offer. Another unique aspect of Roanoke is it consistently votes Democratic, while the areas surrounding it vote Republican. Why do you think this is? Join me as we discuss the history and geography of Roanoke, and interview its city manager, Darlene Burcham back to top

 

 


Neabsco Iron Works

Charlie on the trail to the Iron Factory Charle showing rocks Charlie and Brad Hendrick Charlie teaching

Potomac Mills Mall is one of the states most popular tourist attractions. Back in the colonial days the area wasn't a tourist attraction, but home to one of the first major manufacturing factory's in Virginia, an Iron Mill furnace known as Neabsco Iron Works. Just south of Potomac Mills you can still see remnants of the old iron furnaces. On this journey we were even able to find pieces of charcoal that were used in the production of iron. back to top

 

 

Tobacco Towns

Charlie at Mount Vernon Charlie at Mount Vernon Charlie at Mount Vernon Charlie in a tobacco field

Virginia's first real industry was tobacco. Towns where founded based on tobacco production, however many earlier farmers, such as George Washington replaced their tobacco crop with wheat and corn by the mid 1700's. Why did George Washington come up with the idea of replacing tobacco, while the rest of state turned more acreage into tobacco producing fields? Join us at Mt. Vernon as we examine early agriculture and town development in Virginia. back to top
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