Telling the story of the American Civil War can be a rather fractious and divisive process, but this website brings together a number of unique perspectives for general consideration. The Valley of the Shadow site details life in and around Augusta County, Virginia, and Frankly County, Pennsylvania from the time of John Brown's Raid through the era of Reconstruction. Visitors will find within the site hundreds of relevant and compelling documents, including church records, maps, personal diaries, soldiers" records, and census materials. Some of the documents (such as census records) can be viewed side-by-side for comparative purposes. The "Memory of the War" area is particularly moving as it contains first-hand recollections of the period after the war concluded in 1865. Within this area, the primary documents offered here are divided into sections that include reunions, politics, and obituaries. Overall, the site makes a fine educational resource for both young and old.