The Bill of Rights occupies a unique place in American history. Ratified in 1791 as the first ten amendments to the Constitution, each right was designed to protect individual liberty and limit government power.

While legal scholars and judges continue to debate the Bill of Rights’ meaning, some of the most memorable insights come from the founders who created them. Their words reveal both the hopes and concerns that shaped America’s creation as a constitutional republic.

Often called the “Father of the Constitution,” James Madison initially doubted whether a bill of rights was necessary but ultimately became its chief architect. In a 1789 speech to Congress, Madison argued that the protection of rights would serve as a powerful safeguard against government abuse, observing that “independent tribunals of justice will consider themselves in a peculiar manner the guardians of those rights.” This statement anticipated the important role that courts would later play in defending constitutional freedoms.

Thomas Jefferson was among the strongest advocates for a bill of rights. In a 1787 letter to Madison, he declared, “A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth.” The quote remains one of the most frequently cited statements in American constitutional history. Jefferson believed certain liberties belonged to individuals as a matter of natural right and should never depend solely on the goodwill of government officials. His words reflect the conviction that freedom of speech, religious liberty, due process, and other protections are fundamental rather than optional.

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This is the fifth and final installment of our series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible. If you haven’t read Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4, access them below.

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Next week, we’ll begin sharing content from our Fall 2026 issue. But first, here’s the fifth and final installment of our series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible, followed by five of of our founders’ thoughts on the Bill of Rights.

Revoluationary Secrets, Part 5

The Bermuda Gunpowder Plot

Early in the war, Washington’s Continental Army faced severe gunpowder shortages. In 1775, Patriot leaders became aware of supplies stored in Bermuda, a British territory. On August 14, 1775, local Bermudians—many of whom had trade ties with American colonies—assisted Patriot agents in removing gunpowder from British storage to supply Patriots with much-needed ammunition.

The operation involved covert nighttime transfers of barrels onto American ships. Col. Henry Tucker, a prominent Bermuda merchant and politician, played a pivotal role in the raid.

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The Bill of Rights

Five founders’ thoughts

By Elizabeth Poland Shugg

The Bill of Rights occupies a unique place in American history. Ratified in 1791 as the first ten amendments to the Constitution, each right was designed to protect individual liberty and limit government power.

While legal scholars and judges continue to debate the Bill of Rights’ meaning, some of the most memorable insights come from the founders who created them. Their words reveal both the hopes and concerns that shaped America’s creation as a constitutional republic.

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State Fair of Virginia

Doswell, Virginia
September 25-October 4, 2026

This agricultural fair at Meadow Event Park features livestock competitions, pig races, chainsaw carving, midway rides, concerts, food, and exhibits highlighting Virginia’s rural heritage, farming, and “Best of Show” traditions.

This photo of a male indigo bunting was taken by Betsy Tucker and included in our Summer Portfolio collection. The small songbird forages for seeds and insects, and visits feeders with thistle or nyjer. They migrate at night by the stars and often form large flocks during passage.

Thanks for reading, and remember to always … take the long way home.

Inside, you’ll find a perspective on RV life, a photo essay on the colors of fall, a roundup of scenic railways, and a journey through East Tennessee and North Georgia.

Here’s an early look at some of the photos in our fall Portfolio collection.

Keep an eye out for an email containing the digital edition on October 1. Print subscribers will receive mailed copies a couple of weeks later.

Reminder: In 2027, we’ll transition to a biannual schedule containing expanded Best of the Backroads issues published at the beginning of April and October. If you’d like to subscribe to our print and/or digital editions, click the link below. Questions? Email us at backroadportfolio@gmail.com.

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This is the fourth installment of a five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible. If you haven’t read Parts 1, 2, and 3, access them below.

Spain’s Southern Campaign

The Southern campaign of the Revolutionary War was not solely Anglo-American. Before Spain entered the war in 1779, Louisiana’s interim governor, Bernardo de Gálvez, smuggled critical supplies like gunpowder, muskets, uniforms, and medicine through the British blockade to Patriot forces via the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

After Spain declared war on Britain, Gálvez captured British ports in Pensacola, Mobile, Biloxi, and Natchez with little around 500 soldiers and two ships. His greatest victory was at Pensacola, where Spanish forces took the city by land and sea. The attack lasted from March 9 to May 10, 1781—greatly reducing the number of British forces and ships that could be sent to Cornwallis at Yorktown, which contributed to his impending surrender.

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This week, we head to Florida for the fourth installment of our five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible, with a focus on Spain’s campaign in the Revolutionary War. But first, here’s a brief history of the Amelia Island Lighthouse in Fernandina Beach, pictured above and included in our Summer 2026 Sentinels of the Shore travel feature.

The Amelia Island Lighthouse

215 O’Hagan Lane
Fernandina Beach, Florida

The Amelia Island Lighthouse, built in 1838, is Florida’s oldest surviving lighthouse and the only one built during the state’s Territorial Period (which began in 1821 after the United States acquired the wilderness territory) that escaped major reconstruction. The lighthouse guided sailing ships and, later, modern freighters and fishing boats into Fernandina Harbor.

In 2001, the Amelia Island Lighthouse was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the City of Fernandina Beach, where it remains an active beacon maintained by the Coast Guard with local Auxiliary support. The city offers limited public tours of the historic landmark and Saturday ground access. Tours cost $10 per adult and $5 per child. It’s worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Revolutionary Secrets, Part 4

Spain’s Southern Campaign

The Southern campaign of the Revolutionary War was not solely Anglo-American. Before Spain entered the war in 1779, Louisiana’s interim governor, Bernardo de Gálvez, smuggled critical supplies—gunpowder, muskets, uniforms, and medicine—through the British blockade to Patriot forces via the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

After Spain declared war on Britain, Gálvez captured British ports in Pensacola, Mobile, Biloxi, and Natchez with around 500 soldiers and two ships. His greatest victory was at Pensacola, where Spanish forces took the city by land and sea. The attack lasted from March 9 to May 10, 1781 and greatly reduced the number of British forces and ships that could be sent to Cornwallis at Yorktown, which contributed to Cornwallis’ impending surrender.

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Hurricane Forces at Work

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This week, we share the third installment of our five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible. Then we travel to the Volunteer State to learn about a legendary gold discovery near Greenbrier Cove, navigate the Obed Wild and Scenic River in Wartburg, and preview the 48th Annual Mountaineer Folk Festival in Spencer.

Revolutionary Secrets, Part 3

A key double agent made big social moves

James Armistead Lafayette of New Kent County, Virginia, is remembered as one the most significant intelligence operatives of the American Revolution. With permission from his enslaver, Armistead joined the Continental Army and came under the command of a young French nobleman known as the Marquis de Lafayette. In 1777, the Marquis had anchored his ship at the entrance of South Carolina’s Winyah Bay, then rowed to North Island where he vowed to fight for America’s liberty. He recognized that Armistead’s ability to move between social worlds primed him for double agency, which is exactly what he asked him to do.

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After the Civil War, a blacksmith named Perry Shults became known as the wealthiest man in Greenbrier Cove, Tennessee. According to legend, Shults uncovered a shallow gold streak near Webb Creek with a pick and shovel. He secured a mining charter from the State of Tennessee in 1867, which was, interestingly, only licensed for mining silver, lead, copper, and zinc. Shults guarded the site carefully, taking different paths each time he journeyed to the mine and never sharing the details of its location with his wife. He also melted gold at his forge to produce counterfeit coins, using stolen plates he obtained from a former U.S. Mint worker.

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This is the third installment of a five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible. If you haven’t read Parts 1 and 2, you can access them below.

A Key Double Agent

James Armistead Lafayette, an enslaved man from New Kent County, Virginia, became one of the most significant intelligence operatives of the American Revolution.

With permission from his enslaver, Armistead joined the Continental Army and came under the command of young French nobleman Marquis de Lafayette, who, in 1777, had anchored his ship at the entrance of South Carolina’s Winyah Bay and rowed to North Island, where he vowed to fight on the side of liberty. Armistead’s ability to move between social worlds primed him for double agency, and that is exactly what Lafayette assigned to him.

Armistead posed as a runaway enslaved man seeking work with the British, which gained him access to enemy camps. There, he observed British commanders and defectors like Benedict Arnold, then relayed this intelligence to American forces.

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This is the second installment of a five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped make America’s freedom possible. If you didn’t read Part 1, access it below.

Warrior Women

Women in the Southern colonies didn’t sit passively by observing the Revolutionary War. Embedded in civilian life, they formed informal intelligence and logistical systems, gathering and transmitting important information under conditions of occupation and surveillance.

Three South Carolina women are known for their clandestine courier work in 1781. On January 16, 1781—the night before the Battle of Cowpens—Margaret Catherine “Kate” Moore Barry mounted her horse at Walnut Grove Manor near present-day Spartanburg. She rode all night through South Carolina’s backcountry to warn militia forces of British movements ahead of the Battle of Cowpens.

The following June, Emily Geiger rode through the state’s upcountry with an urgent message from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene for Brig. Gen. Thomas Sumter. After being intercepted by British forces and taken to Fort Granby for questioning, she memorized the message’s contents, then ate the paper it was written on.

Later that year, Laodicea “Dicey” Langston of the Ninety Six District—now Laurens County—bravely spied on Loyalists near her family’s home and learned that “Bloody Bill” Cunningham’s “Bloody Scouts” planned to attack the settlement where her brother and other Patriots camped. She traveled miles through the backcountry terrain at night—by foot and on horseback—to warn the soldiers in time. They alerted residents and prevented the assault.

Another time, when Loyalists pointed a gun at her disabled father, Dicey stepped boldly in front of him, daring them to shoot. Shaken by her courage, they left without harming anyone.

Other women contributed through direct action and sacrifice. During the May 1781 Siege of Fort Motte in South Carolina, British forces took over the elegant Congaree River plantation home of widowed Patriot Rebecca Brewton Motte to fortify it as a key outpost.

After Gen. Francis Marion and Lt. Col. Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee learned of the seizure, they proposed burning the mansion to force a British surrender. In a profound sacrifice for American independence, Motte readily agreed and reportedly supplied the troops with East Indian fire arrows. On May 12, 1781, Patriots ignited the roof and the British soon surrendered. Fortunately, quick-acting Patriots spared the house from total destruction.

Then there was Ann “Nancy” Morgan Hart, a legendary six-foot-tall, redheaded Patriot frontierswoman and spy who was said to have captured or killed British soldiers in her home, prompting Northeast Georgia Cherokee neighbors to nickname her “War Woman.”

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This week, we’re focusing on heroic women of the Revolutionary War in Part 2 of our Revolutionary War Secrets series, then we head to South Carolina to visit a world of color in Winnsboro, preview an annual fiddlers’ convention in Pickens, and take flight with a tricolored heron in Huntington Beach.

Warrior Women

Women in the Southern colonies didn’t sit passively by observing the Revolutionary War. Embedded in civilian life, they formed important informal intelligence and logistical systems, gathering and transmitting information under conditions of occupation and surveillance.

Part 2 of our Revolutionary War Secrets series tells the story of how Margaret Catherine “Kate” Moore Barry, Emily Geiger, Laodicea “Dicey” Langston, Rebecca Brewton Motte, Ann “Nancy” Morgan Hart, and Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson served the Patriots’ cause.

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Christy in Color

1450 Newberry Road
Winnsboro, South Carolina

Speaking of bold women, Christy in Color is the vibrant online home of artist Christy Buchanan’s Wonderful World of Color in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Centered on her SHE Garden—a living studio and whimsical outdoor canvas filled with painted hearts, recycled folk art, bottle houses, picket fences, and ever-evolving installations—Buchanan invites visitors into a joyful fusion of art, gardening, and creativity. Stop by if you’re in the area.

The South Carolina Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention

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As summer turns to fall, explore the Land of Oz, attend a heritage fair, and learn how to play old-time music.

Fort Henry Days

Wheeling, West Virginia
September 5-6, 2026

Experience an authentic Revolutionary War reenactment encampment and market fair at Oglebay Park Resort as part of Wheeling’s America 250 commemoration. Learn about the historic Siege of Fort Henry by listening to period musicians, living history interpreters, and speakers. The event also features a colonial market fair, traditional crafts, and regional food.

North Carolina Mountain State Fair

Fletcher, North Carolina
September 11-20, 2026

Celebrate regional harvests, heritage, and America’s 250th birthday in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Western North Carolina’s premier fair. Organizers will add Semiquincentennial exhibits, patriotic displays, and programming to its traditional agricultural competitions, crafts, livestock, and entertainment this year.

South Carolina Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention

Pickens, South Carolina
September 18-19, 2026

The annual South Carolina Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention at Hagood Mill Historic Site features the official South Carolina State Fiddling Championship. Friday kicks off with concerts by Blindhouse and the Blue Wall Ramblers. Saturday includes youth and adult competitions in fiddle, banjo, guitar, and string band, and a concert takes place that night. See an 1845 gristmill and living-history demos while you’re there.

Autumn at Oz Festival

Beech Mountain, North Carolina
September 11-13, 18-20, and 25-27, 2026

Autumn at Oz is the world’s largest celebration of The Wizard of Oz, held on three September weekends at the historic Land of Oz theme park high atop Beech Mountain. Guests begin at a replica of Auntie Em and Uncle Henry’s Kansas farm, then experience a twister and follow a three-quarter-mile Yellow Brick Road paved with 44,000 gold-glazed bricks. Performers portray Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wicked Witch, Glinda, and the Wizard.

Stephen Foster Old-Time Music Weekend

White Springs, Florida
September 11-13, 2026

The 18th Annual Stephen Foster Old-Time Music Weekend takes place on the banks of the historic Suwannee River at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. This three-day immersive event offers in-depth workshops in traditional old-time music techniques on banjo, guitar, and fiddle for all skill levels. It also features jam sessions, discussion groups, and evening concerts.

Mayberry Days

Mount Airy, North Carolina
September 21-27, 2026

This week-long festival held in Andy Griffith’s hometown recreates the simple rural life of the fictional town of Mayberry from Griffith’s hit TV show. It features parades, live music, checkers tournaments, pork chop sandwiches, apple-peeling contests, guided tours, trivia, and special guests.

SC Foothills Heritage Fair

Seneca, South Carolina
September 22-26, 2026

This multi-day event celebrates the rural Appalachian foothills with agricultural exhibits, heritage crafts, local food vendors, livestock displays, and traditional music. You can also watch blacksmith demos, a tinsmith show, an antique tractor parade, and more.

Hardy County Heritage Weekend

Moorefield, West Virginia
September 25-27, 2026

The 73rd annual heritage weekend event opens historic homes, schools, and churches for tours. It includes Civil War living history, jousting, crafts, live music, food, car shows, and traditional demonstrations, immersing visitors in Appalachian rural history and community traditions.

Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival

Kearneysville, West Virginia
September 25-27, 2026

This juried festival at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds showcases over 160 artisans demonstrating traditional mountain crafts, pottery, woodwork, and more. Live bluegrass music, local wines, craft beers, food, and kids’ activities celebrate Appalachian artistry and heritage.

State Fair of Virginia

Doswell, Virginia
September 25-October 4, 2026

This agricultural fair at Meadow Event Park features livestock competitions, pig races, chainsaw carving, midway rides, concerts, food, and exhibits highlighting Virginia’s rural heritage, farming, and “Best of Show” traditions.

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This is the first of a five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped birth America’s freedom. We start with the Southern intelligence web. Each week, we’ll add a new section.

Revolutionary Secrets, Part 1

By Elizabeth Poland Shugg

We Americans often celebrate our hard-won independence from Britain through a familiar set of images: Washington crossing the Delaware, Continental and British army battles, and clandestine Northern spy rings.

The South’s role in the war, however, unfolded in a far less orderly way. Across Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and beyond, a shifting landscape of local intelligence networks, civilian participation, enslaved resistance, global alliances, and hidden supply chains contributed to the Patriots’ victory. What emerged was not a single war, but multiple conflicts that played out concurrently.

Stories from the Southern campaign don’t often make it into the overall narrative, so we’re throwing a spotlight on the lesser-known people, actions, and events that helped make the Revolution possible.

The Southern Intelligence Web

During the Revolutionary War, Northern Patriots relied on structured espionage strategies through systems like the Culper Spy Ring, directed by Gen. George Washington and Lt. Col. Benjamin Tallmadge. Down South, however, intelligence moved through informal, human networks embedded in daily life.

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This week, we share the first of a five-part series on the covert Southern missions that helped birth America’s freedom, starting with the Southern intelligence web. We also spend some time in Virginia exploring Cornwallis’ Cave in Yorktown and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach. But first, let’s find out who our Pinehurst Barbecue Festival ticket winners are!

Pinehurst Barbecue Festival Ticket Winners

Here are the randomly chosen winners of our Pinehurst Barbecue Festival ticket giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered. The festival is September 4-6 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

• One set of two tickets to the Pitmaster Invitational on September 6: Tommy Pope of York, South Carolina

• One set of four tickets to the Pitmaster Invitational on September 6: Gwen Gangewere of Jacksonville, North Carolina

• One set of four tickets to the Q School Grilling Class on September 5: Janina DeMasi of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

• One set of two tickets to the High on The Hog Pitmaster Dinner on September 4: Jeffrey McQueary of Morrisville, North Carolina

Congratulations to all of our winners, who should have received an email from us prior to this email. We hope you have an awesome—and delicious—experience!

Revolutionary Secrets, Part 1

By Elizabeth Poland Shugg

During the pre-Revolutionary War period, Northern Patriots relied on structured espionage strategies through systems like the Culper Spy Ring, directed by Gen. George Washington and Lt. Col. Benjamin Tallmadge. Down South, however, intelligence moved through informal, human networks embedded in daily life.

The South’s role in the war, however, unfolded in a far less orderly way. Across Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and beyond, a shifting landscape of local intelligence networks, civilian participation, enslaved resistance, global alliances, and hidden supply chains contributed to the Patriots’ victory. What emerged was not a single war, but multiple conflicts that played out concurrently.

READ PART 1

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Cornwallis’ Cave

Yorktown, Virginia

A small, mostly human-made grotto along Yorktown’s waterfront in Virginia, Cornwallis’ Cave holds legendary importance for its role in the final days of the American Revolutionary War. During the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, British General Charles Cornwallis established his base here.

Folklore claims he used the cave—less than 350 square feet—as a hiding place and last headquarters to escape relentless American and French artillery bombardment. Though the National Park Service suggests it may have resulted from stone quarrying and was likely used for storage, the cave is a symbol of Yorktown’s pivotal role in securing American independence. The cave later stored munitions in the Civil War and became a tourist site.

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Interview by Kurt Dusterberg

By the time Larry Bowles led Chesapeake, Virginia Post 280 to the American Legion World Series in 2025, he already knew the event was something special.

As a player, he had finished as runner-up for the Virginia state championship in 1994 and 1995—for the same team he was now coaching.

Bowles’ playing days were part of a different era, before youth sports became college-focused and ultra-competitive. So bringing a team to the American Legion national championship tournament represented a chance to do two things: win something special and, at the same time, tap into a baseball niche that represented simpler times.

Despite changes in the sport, Bowles has worked hard to preserve the spirit of Legion baseball. Here’s our conversation with him about his approach to the players and love of the game.

How have you seen youth baseball change in recent years?

Kids are trying to show off for college coaches in the eighth and ninth grade, and they have their personal trainers that they go to on a regular basis. They go to their pitching coach, and everything is hyper-focused on getting a scholarship. So, we tell them, “When you come play for us in the summer, our first order of business is, you have fun.” So we know we already have the camaraderie from the beginning; it’s just whether we have the talent or not.

You already had eighteen players who had college commitments to play baseball last year, so how did you approach last season?

We went into the summer telling the guys, “Look, you’re going to go play college baseball in the fall and it’s going to become a job.” So we sold them on: This summer, go out here, no stress, no pressure and just have fun. And sometimes it clicks. Last year, it really, really clicked. We had great team camaraderie on top of the team talent.

Do you put much emphasis on the association with the American Legion?

Before the season every year, we get them up to the Legion post to meet some Legionnaires. A lot of parents and players aren’t familiar with American Legion like they used to be. It’s important to understand that the guys who are fundraising for this are part of this organization. They are not just veterans, they’re combat veterans. They did things that most people in our country don’t want to do. When we see veterans, we thank them for their service. We even teach [the players] how to stand for the national anthem. But it’s not too much of a hard sell with our community. We have a very heavy military presence here in the Hampton Roads area [with Naval Station Norfolk.

Has it been difficult to keep the Legion program together as amateur baseball has changed?

In 2011, we had ten American Legion teams just in the Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach area. We had a whole league. By 2013, there were two teams. There were some years where we just could not put a team together. I think it was 2014 and 2015 that we didn’t have a team. I just fought tooth and nail to get a team back together in 2016. It was tough. I was barely putting some rosters together.

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This week, we travel to the Commonwealth of Virginia, where we interview the coach of Chesapeake, Virginia Post 280—the 2025 American Legion World Series championship team— and explore Bacon’s Castle in Surry. Then, view a letter reportedly written by George Washington, whose signature has been forged at least 150 times since his death!

Winning It All—for the Right Reasons

A conversation with Chesapeake, Virginia Post 280 coach Larry Bowles

Interview by Kurt Dusterberg

By the time Larry Bowles led Chesapeake, Virginia Post 280 to the American Legion World Series in 2025, he already knew the event was something special.

As a player, he had finished as runner-up for the Virginia state championship in 1994 and 1995—for the same team he was now coaching.

Bowles’ playing days were part of a different era, before youth sports became college-focused and ultra-competitive. So bringing a team to the American Legion national championship tournament represented a chance to do two things: win something special and, at the same time, tap into a baseball niche that represented simpler times.

Despite changes in the sport, Bowles has worked hard to preserve the spirit of Legion baseball. Here’s our conversation with him about his approach to the players and love of the game.

READ THE INTERVIEW

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Bacon’s Castle

465 Bacons Castle Trail
Surry, Virginia

Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in North America, built in 1665 for Arthur Allen and his family. Originally called Allen’s Brick House, this rare example of High Jacobean architecture gained its famous name in 1676 during Bacon’s Rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon against royal governor William Berkeley. This early show of colonial resistance to British authority occurred on a property that features a reconstructed 17th-century English formal garden, along with surviving outbuildings that include an 1830 slave dwelling, 1820s smokehouse, and 1700 barn. Visitors can tour the historic grounds, and even picnic there.

Felonious Forgers

Charlottesville, Virginia

George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, prioritized intelligence gathering. He also personally oversaw spy networks and corresponded with agents and handlers using codes, aliases, and sometimes invisible ink. Between 150 and 200 documents attributed to Washington, however, are actually forgeries or facsimiles created long after his lifetime, according to the editors of the Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Some imitated his handwriting using quill pens and artificially aged paper, then sold the documents as authentic. As a result, today’s archivists and collectors must carefully authenticate materials. The letter below is believed to have been written by Washington.

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By Kurt Dusterberg

Baseball has long been part of our country’s summertime landscape. For more than a century, fans of America’s pastime have filled major league stadiums to watch the greats of the game. In mid-size towns across the country, minor league ballparks have added to the game’s charm with an up-close view of tomorrow’s stars.

But all across America, another brand of the game—one without much fanfare—has endured for a full century. American Legion Baseball claims more than 3,000 teams that play in local communities. Most players in the amateur baseball organization are older teens, but players as young as 13 are eligible. In many towns, teams are made up of college-bound players, while others do what they can to put together a team to play a summer schedule.

The organization celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. “It’s been around forever,” says Gary Stone, the American Legion National Baseball Committee chairman. “You don’t last that long if you don’t do something right.”

Stone coached Post 340 in Independence, Missouri, for twenty-five years before serving as an administrator. Over that time, he has seen amateur baseball change. The explosive growth of travel sports has drawn many families toward organizations that seek exposure for their young athletes in highly competitive environments. Legion baseball still operates with one eye toward the American Legion’s foundational objectives. The nation’s largest veterans service organization promotes the importance of sportsmanship and active citizenship.

“You learn how to work together as a team and work toward a goal,” Stone says. “Anybody can learn how to win, but you need to learn how to lose. If you lose, you don’t mope about it for a week. Get over it. It’s a new day tomorrow. It doesn’t mean you teach them to be losers. But you learn how to accept the good with the bad.”

Legendary Links

Whatever American Legion Baseball may lack in visibility today, it more than makes up for in tradition. Founded in Milbank, South Dakota, in 1925, the group originally rallied around the words of a Sioux Falls attorney, who suggested, “The American Legion could well consider the advisability of assisting in the training of young Americans through our athletic games.”

Within a few years, the group had secured a $50,000 annual donation from Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. MLB maintains an informal partnership with the league to this day, thanks to the remarkable success of early Legion players. The Baseball Hall of Fame boasts 90 former players, including Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Johnny Bench, Tony Gwynn and Greg Maddux. In its early decades, American Legion Baseball was so popular that Babe Ruth, long retired from the New York Yankees, became the official ambassador for the organization. He traveled the country in 1947 and 1948 to inspire kids while battling cancer at the end of his life.

More recent major league stars have sung the praises of playing Legion ball. Don Mattingly was a six-time All Star for the Yankees in the 1980s and 1990s. Now the interim manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, Mattingly starred on his local Legion team. “I played in Evansville (Indiana) for Funkhouser American Legion Post 8,” Mattingly is quoted as saying on the Legion website. “It was a great experience for me. I love Legion. It really kind of got me ready for pro ball because you played a lot of games during the summer break, and there were no true practices because you played so many games.”

Shelby in the Spotlight

Today, Legion baseball has a hit-or-miss presence around the country. Some states have hundreds of teams, while others number in the single digits. The mid-Atlantic and Southeast have prosperous programs, led by North Carolina, which boasts 100 teams; South Carolina, with 69; and Virginia, with 29.

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We’re sliding into America’s favorite pastime this week with a focus on American Legion Baseball, 100 years after it all started. Plus, we visit North Carolina’s Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson, and take in the beauty of meticulously handcrafted products that honor America’s 250th birthday.

This week’s email is unpaywalled, allowing all subscribers to scroll to the end. Free subscribers can preview our feature story on American Legion Baseball, but only upgraded subscribers will receive an emailed version of the full feature. Right now, for a limited time, enjoy 10% off your digital subscription upgrade—and receive a complimentary print copy of our Summer 2026 Semiquincentennial Issue.

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America’s Enduring Pastime

100 years later, American Legion Baseball maintains a proud legacy

By Kurt Dusterberg

Baseball has long been part of our country’s summertime landscape. For more than a century, fans of America’s pastime have filled major league stadiums to watch the greats of the game. In mid-size towns across the country, minor league ballparks have added to the game’s charm with an up-close view of tomorrow’s stars.

But all across America, another brand of the game—one without much fanfare—has endured for a full century. American Legion Baseball claims more than 3,000 teams that play in local communities. Most players in the amateur baseball organization are older teens, but players as young as 13 are eligible. In many towns, teams are made up of college-bound players, while others do what they can to put together a team to play a summer schedule.

READ MORE

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Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson

8884 St. Philip’s Road SE
Winnabow, North Carolina

The Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson historic site sits on the banks of North Carolina’s Cape Fear River. Founded in 1726 as a bustling colonial port, Brunswick exported naval stores like tar, pitch, and turpentine, vital to the British navy. It served as the colony’s de facto capital, hosting royal governors and the colonial assembly. British forces razed the town in 1776 during the Revolutionary War, after which it was never rebuilt.

During the Civil War, Confederates constructed Fort Anderson atop the ruins to defend Wilmington. The site today features preserved colonial foundations, the remains of St. Philip’s Church, earthworks of the Confederate fort, and exhibits on both eras. Visitors can explore this layered landscape blending early American commerce, resistance, and conflict.

Custom Semiquincentennial Barrels

Prices start at $450

Celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday by ordering a custom-made Semiquincentennial oak barrel, either whole- or half-size, fitted with shelving and LED lights. Made in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, it’s perfect for storing whiskey glasses, wine bottles, or other beautiful treasures. This year only, the barrel features a hand-carved top with an eagle in flight in front of an American flag. Above the eagle, the artist has carved 2026 on the left side and 1776 on the right. Below the eagle, it reads, “250 Years of Freedom.” Text Scott at 919-219-3065 to order.

Heritage Flag Company Barrel Wood Series Flags

Prices vary

These handcrafted American flags by Southern Pines, North Carolina-based Heritage Flag Company are made from aged whiskey and bourbon barrels. Each piece is meticulously textured with chiseled stars and rich, natural wood tones, blending rustic character with fine craftsmanship. Shop flags here.

Thanks for reading, and remember to always … take the long way home.

Dear Friend of the Backroads,

Long before the interstates, the backroads carried us to the places in between. They still do.

This summer, as our nation marks its 250th birthday, we’re inviting you to travel those winding lanes with us in a special way.

For a limited time, enjoy 10% off your digital subscription upgrade—and receive a complimentary print copy of our Summer 2026 Semiquincentennial Issue.

Inside these pages you’ll find:

• Revolutionary War battlefields and the quiet secrets that helped secure victory

• Historic Southern lighthouses standing sentinel over the shore

• The enduring tradition of American Legion Baseball

• Colonial-era recipes, founding fathers’ thoughts on liberty, and more

It’s a keepsake issue—one that honors how far we’ve come while still celebrating the small towns, open fields, and living history that make these roads worth taking.

If you’re a free subscriber interested in deepening your journey by becoming an upgraded digital subscriber, this is the perfect time to join us.

We publish every Thursday, send a monthly Backroad Bulletin, and deliver the print magazine seasonally. Most of all, we believe the best stories still live just off the main thoroughfare.

Take the long way home.

With gratitude,
Elizabeth & Erica
Backroad Portfolio

P.S. The free print copy of the Summer 2026 edition ships with your subscription. Supplies are limited—we hope you’ll claim yours while they last. Also, don’t forget to enter our Pinehurst Barbecue Festival ticket giveaway.

Our spotlight on lighthouses continues, with a focus on four in Florida photographed by the amazing Robert Clark. From St. Augustine to Key West, read about four that still stand watch during the changing tides of war, trade, and tourism.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

St. Augustine, Florida
staugustinelighthouse.org

The history of the St. Augustine Lighthouse begins in 1589, when Spanish watchtowers on Anastasia Island were first documented as coastal sentinels protecting the harbor. Those early beacons established a tradition of coastal navigation that eventually led to Florida’s first lighthouse. The current 165-foot tower was constructed with Alabama brick and Philadelphia iron between 1871 and 1874 after erosion threatened the previous lighthouse. Since then, it has guided mariners through changing eras of trade, tourism, and wartime defense.

Today, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum preserves the tower, its original Fresnel lens, and thousands of historical artifacts while conducting archaeological research, educational programs, and ongoing restoration to protect the site for future generations.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse

Read more

This week, we continue our focus on lighthouses in the great state of Florida. We also take you to two Florida state parks: Paynes Prairie Preserve and Fort Mose—and preview the annual Big Bend Rodeo in Quincy, Florida.

Beacons of Preservation

Join us as we journey to four lighthouses in Florida, photographed by the amazing Robert Clark. From St. Augustine to Key West, these historic beacons still stand watch during the changing tides of war, trade, and tourism.

KEEP READING

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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

100 Savannah Boulevard
Micanopy, Florida

Located south of Gainesville in north-central Florida, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park protects a vast natural basin where wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands converge. A network of trails and observation platforms allows visitors to explore the preserve’s diverse habitats and abundant wildlife. Throughout the year, wild horses, bison, alligators, and countless bird species can often be seen across the open prairie. Framed by expansive skies, swaying grasses, and seasonal marshes, the preserve offers a striking reminder of the wild landscapes that once covered much of the Florida peninsula.

Read more