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National Geographic magazine has always valued the qualities one place can aquire; how one place isn't like another. We love to see the difference of one place so that we are able to appreciate what the next place has to offer. That's why we have taken the last six months to showcase different places around the world and feature them in our magazine. National Geographic has chose to begin right here in America. The first place we have selected to showcase is Southwest Virginia. Here we have found in the Appalachain Mountains a small town called Big Stone where we located the Southwest Virginia Museum. At the museum, much of the areas heritage is concealed here. This is where National Geographic spent much of our time obsurving for this column and first showcase. It was also a key source because much of the exhibits and artwork aquired from the museum came from many people who had or do live in the region. The Southwest Virginia Museum comemorates and reminds the area and tells others of Southwest VIrginia's established heritage, thanks to much of C. Bascom Slemp's work. He established the museum by dedicating it to the state through the Slemp Foundation. He, and his sister, done much work to see the museum flourish by exploring the area and giving the museum many of the items that still exist with the exhibits today. The museum was inspired by the settlers who traveled to Virginia. A person, who is well known, that was one of these travelers was Daniel Boone. The museum comemorates the brave settelers, immigrants, and heritage of Southwest Virginia with displays of quilts, old clothes, artwork, ect. of all the endurances for Southwest Virginia. The first floor of the museum features the "boom and bust" era, the second floor features Southwest Virginia's residents a the turn of the century, and the third goes on to feature early exploration and settlement of the area. National Geographic magazine recognizes he Southwest Virginia Museum as a true emblem to Southwest Virginia. A place where much can be learned about this unique area. Southwest Virginia bares none of the qualities as Paris, France, where National Geographic magazine will be showcasing in next months column. To tell the difference come with us to Paris in nextmonths issue of National Geographic magazine.