There are so many places that symbolize the South. From homes and other building to monuments to the mighty Mississippi. This is just a partial list of the places that are special to Southern heritage. Come back from time to time, as more are likely to be added.
Arlington House
Mt. Vernon
Montecello
Stone Mountain
The Mississippi River
New Orleans French Quarter
Fort Sumter
The Confederate White House
The Virginia State House
The South Carolina State House
Gettysburg
The Lee Shrine
The Jackson Shrine
"Tara"
The house that was once the home of Robert E. Lee is now a museum about his life and the life of his wife's ancestor: George Washington. It sits high on Arlington Heights, proud, simple, elegant and timeless. As the beloved home of the great Robert E. Lee that was taken away from him by the U.S. Government, it is a symbol of what the Southern Patriots gave up in order to defend their beliefs. Most came from small farms with tiny homes, but every Southron's home was as beloved to them as Lee's was to him. Arlington House stands as a testament to what once was and what was given up in the quest for a dream.
The home of George Washington is as much a symbol of the South as it is a symbol of the nation. A farmer first, a father second, a fighter third and a politician last, Washington is the role model for a true Southron. His home in Northern Virginia, quite simple and made of common materials, sat at the center of a small agricultural center. It is the symbol of the ideal of an agrarian society.
The ideals of States Rights, limited central government, agrarianism and harmony are all symbolized in the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Southern Virginia. It is simple, elegant and yet full of innovations. It shows the enterprising spirit of the South, tempered by the desire to remain classical and simple.
The South's Mt. Rushmore, Stone Mountain is actually the largest base relief caving in the world. It depicts Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. It, also, was never completed, but remains an impressive site just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
The life blood of the South, the mighty Mississippi remains as impressive and symbolic of the South today as ever. It winds down through the heart of the South and carries with it materials and produce. Its unstoppable flow, power, beauty and vitality is an ever present natural reminder of the Southern way of life.
Not all of the South is based on agriculture and classical ideals. The cultural mixing pot that one finds in New Orleans with its unique French Quarter is also a symbol of the South - more today than ever. The birthplace of jazz, a hub of steamboat activity, a place where all the cultures of all the ethnic groups that make up the South blend together to make something entirely new and exciting: all these things and more are symbolized by New Orleans.
The place where it all began. The little old fort out in Charleston Harbor, SC that the Union troops evacuated to, refused to leave and in the end were shelled out of (without a single casualty) began the war that claimed so many lives, destroyed the South, created the income tax and cast the U.S. into heavy debt. It sits there in the quiet harbor as a symbol of all that was the War Between the States.
A symbol of the Confederacy as much as the U.S. White House is of the nation, the Confederate White House in Richmond, VA is a symbol of the great Southern accomplishments in the area of politics, nationalism and States Rights.
Inside its halls, resides a statue of Robert E. Lee. The building speaks of the Confederate government, but also of the principle that states have the power, granted by the Constitution, to govern their own citizens in almost all areas, save National Defense, Interstate Commerce and International Affairs.
The birthplace of the Confederacy, the center of the whirlwind about Southern Heritage, political correctness and the power of special interest groups, the South Carolina State House was until recently the symbol of Southern continuity in the face of continuing re-construction attempts. Now it is the symbol of our attacked heritage, the infringement of our 1st Ammendment Rights and the need to once again stand up and be counted.
Although not in the South, the monuments to the fallen Confederate Patriots that cover the battlefield at Gettysburg symbolize Southern sacrifice, gallantry, reverence and remembrance.
Like the resting place of Washington at Mt. Vernon, the final resting place of Robert E. Lee in Lexington, VA is very special to Southrons. A soldier, husband, father, leader, educator and devout man, Lee is a second Washington to the people of the South. His personal sacrifices, his devotion to duty and his kindness to others not only saves for him a special place in all Southron's hearts, but also symbolizes the ideals each true Southron tries to live up to.
Like the Lee Shrine, the final resting place of "Stonewall" Jackson is a place for reflecting on the qualities of the great Southrons who founded and protected our Constitution. It also symbolizes Southern piety as Jackson was a very pious man. Despite all the fame that was heaped upon him, he still drew his greatest joy from God, family and working the earth.
Although not a real place, "Tara" is truely a symbol of what was sacrificed in order to fight for the freedoms provided by the Constitution. It may not exist, but it touches the heart and echos the real stories of so many.