Here is the tentative Itinerary for 2010 Second Colony Tour:

Plop down in your comfy seat on the luxury tour bus and then be prepared for a journey back in time.  Have your cameras ready and enjoy.

Bus Tour departs promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Friday July 16 from the Best Western Hotel in Culpeper.  Click here for map.

We will cruise down Route 29 on our comfortable, air-conditioned luxury tour bus to beautiful, rural Madison County, enjoying getting to know one another on the way.

After a brief visit to the areas near Wolftown settled by the Broyles, Holt and Rouse families, we will stop in Madison to visit the historic Eagle House. 

Eagle House, privately-owned by the Eaheart family,  is one of the oldest structures in Madison, once  operated as a tavern by the Germannan Carpenter family. (The Eahearts have multiple Germanna lines so you will actually be visiting cousins!)

In its basement is the original 18th century walnut bar, and we are honored that the Eahearts are allowing us into a place that, surely, some of our ancestors visited regularly.  You will hear about a famous murder that took place at the Eagle House in the 1850s involving the Clores and the Carpenters.  Learn why a bar is called a bar.  This is a rare treat only available to those on this tour.

Enjoy the central walking area in downtown Madison where there also will be time to visit the 1829-30 Courthouse next to the Eagle House, and the nearby Arcade which is headquarters of the Madison County Historical Society.  See the museum of the Madison County Historical Society and purchase some souvenirs if you like. 

The historic Arcade area of downtown Madison will be a delightful place to explore.  You will definitely enjoy the classic drugstore in Madison founded in 1856 where you can still find unique items while soaking up the old-time atmosphere.

A visit to the historic Tanner's Feed Store, Antiques and Collectibles is another stop the likes of which you just can't find anywhere but on this tour.  (We can make individual arrangements for those who wish to tour the Kemper residence in Madison as well.)  Downtown Madison is a real gem of history, interesting sites and good old-fashioned hospitality. 

Those on this tour take away big memories of their visit to little Madison, Virginia.

We will then travel into the adjacent Robinson River Valley for lunch at the historic Hebron Lutheran Church, built by our ancestors, with a lecture by Germanna historian extraordinaire, John Blankenbaker, on the history of the church.  John makes the history come alive with great stories and the fruits of his research.  Sit in the historic church, enjoy the atmosphere, the amazing church organ, and the Italian artist painted ceiling all the while soaking up the history from the individual who knows it better than anyone.

These are the types of experiences that one can only get on this Germanna Second Colony Tour.  The memories you make while peering into the past simply cannot be found at a mall or anywhere other than on this tour.

A tasty lunch will be enjoyed right on the church grounds.  After lunch, the bus will take us around the beautiful Robinson River Valley to see land once owned by the Blankenbaker, Broyles, Carpenter/Zimmerman, Clore, Cook,  Crigler, Fleishman, Gaar, Huffman, Long, Scheible, Smith, Snyder, Tanner, Thomas, Utz, Wilhoit, and Yager families.

 Touring the beautiful countryside where your ancestors once lived wil help you appreciate your roots in a new and very rich manner.

On our cruise back to Culpeper from Madison County, we will stop at the Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, where there will be time to watch the wine-making operation and to enjoy a little wine-tasting as well as their beautiful mountain view.  Yes, wine-tasting!  You don't want to miss it.

There will be more but you have to join us to discover the rest of this great tour.  Seats are limited so make your plans now!

TO REGISTER FOR THE 2010 CONFERENCE AND REUNION, JUST CLICK HERE