Did you know that if you google, “ruins near me” you will discover a treasure trove of places you can explore. What fascinates me is that these ruins are right under our nose! Its a dying snapshot of society from times past.
I had the opportunity to visit the Barboursville ruins outside of Charlotteville, Virginia several years ago. I was told they were Greek like ruins. I found that hard to believe but it was true.
Photographing ruins and “old stuff” in general is a fun challenge. I am the one who gets to decide how I want to present the subject to the viewer. What it is I want to say about the subject. I wonder what undiscovered treasures are buried in or near the ruins…
The Barboursville mansion was constructed between 1814 and 1822. It is the only building in Orange County, Virginia that was designed by Thomas Jefferson. It was built for Jefferson’s friend, James Barbour, who held several political offices, including the governor of Virginia, a U.S. senator and the secretary of war.
Preserved as a ruin after its destruction by fire on December 25, 1884, A brick Flemish-bond mansion with a hipped roof, Barboursville stood two stories high over an English basement. After the fire, the family renovated a pair of brick dependencies to the west of the mansion. Barboursville Ruins (virginia.org)
The house originally had a racetrack in front of it, but now it is home to one of Virginia’s first significant wineries. The ruins are now a tourist destination.
I would like to see the biblical ruins in Isreal someday.
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