Steeles Tavern, Virginia facts for kids
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Steeles Tavern is a small community located in the beautiful Virginia countryside. It sits right on the border between two counties: Augusta County and Rockbridge County, Virginia. This area is known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Steeles Tavern is quite high up, sitting at an elevation of about 1,683 feet (513 meters) above sea level.
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Exploring Steeles Tavern
Steeles Tavern is a quiet place with a rich history. It was once known by a different name: Midway. This name probably came from its location, being "midway" between other important places or along a travel route.
The Cyrus McCormick Farm
One of the most famous spots near Steeles Tavern is the Cyrus McCormick Farm. This historic farm is very important because it was the home of Cyrus McCormick, a brilliant inventor. In 1831, McCormick invented the mechanical reaper right here on this farm.
Who Was Cyrus McCormick?
Cyrus McCormick was born in 1809. He grew up on his family's farm in Virginia. Even as a young man, he was interested in making farm work easier. Back then, harvesting crops like wheat was a very slow and difficult job, usually done by hand with scythes.
The Amazing Mechanical Reaper
McCormick's mechanical reaper was a machine that could cut down grain much faster than people could do it by hand. This invention changed farming forever! It allowed farmers to harvest more crops with less effort. This meant more food could be produced, which helped feed growing populations around the world. The reaper was a huge step forward for agriculture.
A National Historic Place
Because of its importance to American history and farming, the Cyrus McCormick Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Today, you can visit the farm and learn all about McCormick's life and his incredible invention. It's a great place to see how technology changed the way we grow our food.
