On October 16th, 2009 the U.S. Secretary of Transportation designated the 180-mile long route of US Route 15, US Route 15 Business, and Virginia Routes 20, 231, 22, and 53 as the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway. This is one of the highest designations the Secretary can bestow upon a public road and is a tribute to the local communities from Gettysburg, PA to Monticello in Virginia. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway is the primary touring route from which visitors can explore this scenic and historically rich landscape that, according to the late historian C. Vann Woodward, has "soaked up more of the blood, sweat, and tears of American history than any other part of the country."