Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Yes, I was the weirdo who insisted that her senior pictures take place on the grounds of church ruins and in an adjoining cemetery. Aside from the fact that Old Sheldon—a South Carolina church that burned both in the Revolutionary and Civil War—is my favorite place in the world, I’m sure it looked a little odd to be traipsing around the site in a formal dress and converse shoes back in 2011. Don’t come at me, bro; I was in style. 

I’ve always had an affinity for older places, older things. And in the 10-day stretch in August, when my husband is a whole five years older than me, I guess older guys. That’s why I love my colleague Sam Cohen’s story below. She also has an appreciation for the unique finds others might overlook. I think you’ll enjoy learning about these cool places, too, because I’m so glad you’re here.

Ruins can be found throughout Belle Isle State Park in Richmond, one of Virginia’s dark tourism hotspots. (UrbEx Richmond/CC BY-ND 2.0)

By Sam Cohen

Here’s what you need to know: If this is your first time hearing the term “dark tourism,” you’re not alone. Essentially, the term is used to describe traveling to places typically associated with tragedy and death, but from a historical perspective.

Our top picks:

• Perhaps the most “unsettling” part of Belle Isle’s story is that it was used as a Confederate prison camp during the Civil War. Thousands of Union soldiers were held prisoner, many of whom died during their imprisonment on the banks of the James River. 

• Constructed in 1891, the 60-acre Evergreen Cemetery was intended to serve as the final resting place for African American leaders, pioneers, and residents. The idea was to create a burial site akin to Hollywood Cemetery, where Richmond’s notable white residents were buried.

• Amid the rural landscape of Mechanicsville lies the skeletal remains of Polegreen Church. The historic structure has been dubbed “The Ghost Church” by locals, although this moniker is more likely due to its eerie appearance rather than any purported ghosts that may potentially haunt the area.

Ready to explore? We’ve got info on these sites and more at the link below.

Can we backtrack a week, since I missed highlighting the responses we got for the question: Who’s the greatest Virginian of all time?

Great, thanks, because I really, genuinely, enjoyed your answers for that one. We had CJ M., who legit categorized into historical, sports, celebrity, and singer favorites, ultimately choosing the all-time winner as George Washington. 

Then, there was Jason M., who pulled out some Jeopardy-level game show knowledge with Dr. Charles Pepper. 

But my favorite response? That came from Instagram follower manta_bray, who elected “Francine,” the famous Richmond Lowe’s cat.

An oligarchy refers to a small group of elites who either directly run the government or hold sway over those who do. (Greg Rosenke/Unsplash)

By Ryan Pitkin

Who really runs the world—the people, or a handful of elites pulling the strings? 

Different power structures have ruled over societies since societies became a thing, and lately, you may have seen one word popping up more and more: Oligarchy. 

An oligarchy refers to a small group of elites who either directly run the government or hold sway over those who do. Think oil-rich Saudi princes or Silicon Valley tech bros—their power comes from wealth, fame, connections, or their influence in politics, religion, or the military.

And there’s more than one way to do oligarchy: 

• Plutocracy: rule by the rich.
• Kleptocracy: rule by the thieves—when leaders loot their own country to get even richer.

During former President Joe Biden’s farewell address in January, he warned that the US could soon become an oligarchy “of extreme wealth, power and influence.” Some experts say that’s exactly what’s been happening over the last 10 months. 

What do you think? 

• The role of attorney general is one many of us may not have fully appreciated until this year. Attorneys general across the country have held the line against assaults on Medicaid, jobs, public education, and—more recently—freedom of speech. (Read more)

• It might sound wild, but health care options in rural Virginia have gotten so terrible lately that my family crosses the state line to receive same-day treatment. (Read more)

• Virginia’s health care system is in crisis mode. Massive funding cuts are taking their toll on rural hospitals, and the government shutdown is leaving both patients and doctors in limbo. (Watch here)

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