Rare back view of the home of Robert E. Lee. I always see everyone publishing the photograph of the front of Robert E. Lee's home in Richmond. I was fortunate enough to go behind his home and take photographs, and thought I would show what his home really looked like. It was explained to me that back in the 1800s the front of the home was really treated like the back. The roads were muddy messes, horses made a mess there, and sewage generally flowed down the primitive streets. Therefore, homes of the day would entertain in what we would consider today to be the back of the home. That way they were away from the smells and hustle of the main streets. Most prominent homes from the day are designed this way.

Rare back view of the home of Robert E. Lee. I always see everyone publishing the photograph of the front of Robert E. Lee's home in Richmond. I was fortunate enough to go behind his home and take photographs, and thought I would show what his home really looked like. It was explained to me that back in the 1800s the front of the home was really treated like the back. The roads were muddy messes, horses made a mess there, and sewage generally flowed down the primitive streets. Therefore, homes of the day would entertain in what we would consider today to be the back of the home. That way they were away from the smells and hustle of the main streets. Most prominent homes from the day are designed this way.

© Mike Lynaugh