I had the privilege of joining Sterling Howell for a one-on-one walking tour of Charlottesville, and it was the highlight of my personal solo journey through Appalachian history. I happened upon the experience serendipitously, and it turned out to be unforgettable.

Sterling’s depth of knowledge and passion for storytelling brought the region’s complex past vividly to life. His ability to connect historical events, people, and places with clarity and sensitivity made the tour not just informative, but transformative. I left with a richer understanding of Central Virginia and a deep appreciation for the power of public history.

I wholeheartedly recommend Roots & Vistas to anyone seeking meaningful, place-based learning.

 

Sterling is an outstanding tour guide–knowledgeable, approachable, curious, and just an all-around interesting guy. My wife and I spent an enjoyable morning learning about Charlottesville’s history with him, and we were extremely impressed with both his feel for historical nuance and his depth of knowledge. I would recommend Roots and Vistas Tours to anyone.
– Donovan Schaefer, Professor, University of Pennsylvania

Recently my son and his family visited Charlottesville over a long weekend. I arranged a tour of downtown with Sterling since they’re interested in history. It was a fascinating tour. Sterling has a deep knowledge of local history (and of American history in general), and he has a flair for picking out interesting stories. We were engrossed from beginning to end. As my son and daughter-in-law were leaving to go back to Baltimore, they made a special point of saying that the highlight of the weekend was Sterling’s tour.

As the former Executive Director for the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, I can say without a doubt that Sterling is an expert in researching, creating, and bringing to life local history tours. He single-handedly revived the historical society’s tour program, and in the process, immersed himself in the diverse and incredible history of our region. His tours not only explore the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the history, but also uncover the relevance that our past shares with the present. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend that you take a Roots and Vistas Tour.

– Tom Chapman