“It Happened Near Me” provides a series of primary sources, along with contextual materials that help to tie local places to your history curriculum.

1699: First Europeans on the Virginia Frontier. Two Tidewater gentlemen are sent to greet the leader of the Piscataway

1774: The Coming of the American Revolution. Loudoun County reacts to the Boston Tea Party

1776: The Revolution at Home. A stranded young Englishman describes the Revolution in Leesburg

1858: Ads for Enslaved Workers. Historic newspaper listings of enslaved people in Loudoun

1859: Harriett’s Letters. An enslaved woman’s letters are discovered after John Brown’s Raid

1860: Industrialization and Transportation. A list of goods from Purcell’s store shows local and exotic items for sale

1861: Virginia Secedes. Loudoun resident John Janney describes the secession convention which leads to Civil War

1862: War Comes to Warrenton. Fauquier resident Susan Caldwell writes about the invading United States soldiers

Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area