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Historic Sites

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JTI Fountain

Main Street Plaza’s most notable amenity is the multi-stage fountain that is 40 feet in diameter. In the upper stage, seven water jets shoot water vertically. The seven jets represent the Tobacco Warehouse District’s seven blocks of the Tobacco Warehouse District. JTI Fountain lights up at night and has the option of changing the color of the lights. Read more...
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Langhorne House, Birthplace of Lady Astor

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The Langhorne House is the birthplace of Nancy Langhorne, Viscountess Astor, the first woman seated in the British House of Commons. Her sister Irene married the artist Charles Dana Gibson who immortalized his wife as the “Gibson Girl,” the international fashion ideal of the turn of the 20th century. Their father, Chiswell Langhorne, worked in the tobacco industry while in Read more...
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Carroll County Heritage Flag Pole

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The front lawn of the Historic Carroll County Courthouse in the Hillsville Historic District features a unique flag pole. In May 2005, The Jubal Early Camp 1691 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans erected the pole as a Heritage Flag Pole on which historic flags will be flown on different days. An objective of the sponsoring organization was to make Read more...
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William Byrd’s 1728 Camp Historic Marker

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Along the narrow grassy stretch of median between the four lanes of U.S. Route 220 within sight of the North Carolina border, travelers might get a quick glance of a historic marker.This marker commemorates a moment in Colonial History when this area was indeed on the frontier and it was a moment when the Virginia-North Carolina border was officially established.Prior Read more...
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Village View Mansion House

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The house was built in the 1790s for James Wall, and has been home to the Wall, Land and Briggs families. During the Civil War, the front parlor of the house served as the site of a council of war for Generals W.H.F. Lee, Wade Hampton and Matthew Butler. In the late 19th century, rooms in the house, as well Read more...
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Roanoke Star

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Built in 1949 and visible from just about every part of the Valley is this splendidly illuminated, 100 foot-tall Star situated on the top of Mill Mountain. Native Americans wandering between the parallel ridges of the Allegheny Mountains named their great valley Shenandoah, “daughter of the stars.” Roanoke is known as the “Star City of the South”. Read more...
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Grave of William Letcher – Ararat, VA

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William Letcher’s grave is the oldest in Patrick County, VA. He was killed by a British Tory at his doorstep in 1780. He was the great-grandfather of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, who was born on the family farm called Laurel Hill. William Letcher was born in 1750 and married Elizabeth Perkins about 1778. The home was located on Read more...
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Boydton, Virginia, an eighteenth century towne

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Historic Boydton is an 18th century towne located in Southern Virginia. A completed street enhancement project renders a charming Victorian ambiance to the entire historic district. As the county seat, it boasts a unique hexastyle Greek Revival courthouse. Built and designed by Jefferson’s own builder, it is a replica of the State Capitol in Richmond. From its central location on Read more...
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Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker

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View the newest Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker in the United States (installed on Memorial Day 2005 – May 30). The Blue Star Memorials were first conceived after World War II to honor veterans. They were later changed to all members of the armed services past, present, and future and became a project of the National Council of State Garden Read more...
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Franklin County Historical Society

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Chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1968 with the stated purpose of collecting and preserving the history of Franklin County, Virginia. Staffed by volunteers Read more...
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1769 Old Chapel Church

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1769 Old Chapel Church in Penhook is one of only four pre-Revolutionary War frame Anglican churches in Virginia. Built in 1769, it is the oldest documented frame structure in Southwest Virginia. The one-story, 249 year old church has been preserved and completely restored to its 18th Century appearance. The white 24 by 32 foot building with five windows and plank Read more...
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Camp Allegheny, Confederate Outpost

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Inscription reads: “Two miles west on the former Staunton-to-Parkersburg Turnpike is Camp Allegheny, the highest Civil War fortification east of the Mississippi. Its rolling meadows and spectacular views belie a punishing winter climate.” The turnpike was completed in 1839 to “benefit the state by retaining and increasing its western population, clearing and settling an extensive territory, and adding to the Read more...
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Draper Mercantile and Trading Company

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The Draper Mercantile has been a favorite local hangout for over 125 years. We’re continuing that tradition and welcome you to the new gathering place for great food, friendly folks and an inspiring atmosphere.  The Draper Mercantile is also home to the Draper Valley Marketplace, an eclectic little market dedicated to bringing you vibrant, healthful food diversity from our own community Read more...
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Sims-Mitchell House

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Built soon after the Civil War in Italianate villa style by Col. William E. Sims, the house was opened as bed-and-breakfast in 1975 by Henry and Patricia Mitchell. It has more than enough room, five rooms including a ballroom and 11 fireplaces. The Mitchells restored it with profound respect for its construction, including brick kilned on the place, shiplap siding, Read more...
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Sutherlin Mansion

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is housed in the Sutherlin Mansion which was the former home of Major William T. Sutherlin, wartime quartermaster for Danville and among its most prominent citizens. For one week, 3-10 April 1865, Major and Mrs. Sutherlin opened their home to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government. The Confederate President occupied a bedroom Read more...
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Hensley’s Settlement

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Hensley’s Settlement is part of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, which lies in three states: Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The preserved settlement is located atop Brush Mountain where the Hensley’s first settled in 1903. In the early part of the century, the Hensley’s settled on the mountain, forsaking settled areas for an entirely self-sufficient way of life. This truly rural Read more...
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Town of Monterey, Headquarters Town

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Inscription reads: “Monterey was headquarters for Confederates during much of the 1861 Mountain Campaign and headquarters for Federals prior to the fighting at McDowell. In the winter of 1861-1862, skirmishing occurred across the county as the frontier between the armies shifted from Allegheny Mountain, on the modern state line, to West View in Augusta County.” Union forces occupied Monterey on Read more...
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Painter Cemetery: Blue Ridge Parkway

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Visitors along the Blue Ridge Parkway often overlook the fact that the landscape they are traveling was occupied in earlier historic times. Little has survived the passage of time of the settlers and farmers who once called this home. However, several cemeteries along the route bear mute testimony to these early dwellers and their desendents. The thirty some miles of Read more...
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White’s Mill

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Established in 1790, this is one of the only water-powered flour mills still operating in Southwest Virginia. It is a National and a Virginia Historic Landmark. Milling demonstrations, handmade broom demonstration and a general store on-site. Read more...
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Montgomery Floyd Regional Libraries

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The local library system has three locations throughout the county, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, and Meadowbrook. They all contain local history and genealogical data. Blacksburg is located at 200 Miller Street, and Meadowbrook at 267 Allegheny Springs Rd., Shawsville, VA. Hours: 9am-8pm Weekdays, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm Read more...
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750 Main Street Historic Marker

“On this site stood the residence of James E. Schoolfield. In the parlor of his house were held the meetings to organize both Dan River, Inc. on July 20, 1882 and the Young Women’s Christian Association of Danville on December 19, 1904.” The 750 Main Street Historic Marker stands to remind visitors where two important entities began in Danville, Virginia. Read more...
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Sanders House Center

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The Sanders House Center includes a late 19th century home which was once the centerpiece of a 3,000 acre farm. Built in 1896, it has gorgeous solid oak woodwork, original wood floors, hand-painted imported mural and many of the original furnishings. There are nine fireplaces, three floors and a total of 19 rooms. The grounds include a granary which now Read more...
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Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum

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Visit the birthplace and childhood home of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson. Born and raised in Wytheville, Edith Bolling Wilson is a descendant of Pocahontas. As one of only eight historic sites across the country dedicated to the interpretation of a First Lady, the museum tells the story of the overlooked, yet vitally important role Edith Bolling Wilson played in the Read more...
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Boyd Tavern Foundation

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The original Boyd Tavern was constructed in 1790.It consisted of a small one-story dwelling & tavern. Around 1816 the building was altered and expanded reflecting the nucleus of the present structure. By the 1820s, the building had evolved into a federal style.Following the civil war, the owners sought to give the tavern a different appearance. These changes are attributed to Read more...
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Rock Churches in Floyd County

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Constructed of native stones from the Blue Ridge Mountains, the beautiful rock churches in Floyd are three of the six rock churches built in the first half of the 20th century under the leadership of Rev. Bob Childress. Made famous by the book The Man Who Moved a Mountain by Richard C. Davids (1970), these historic-but-active churches stand as living Read more...
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Bassett Train Station Event Center

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The Bassett Train Station Event Center is now ready to host events for up to 200 guests. The main room for the Event Center is the spacious hall which was the train depot’s shipping and receiving warehouse that now includes a raised platform. This main room is surrounded by rustic white painted brick walls with the original wooden sliding doors Read more...
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Sinking Spring Cemetery

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Sinking Spring Cemetery: Cemetery is the final resting place for Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd, Lt. Col. W.W. Blackford, Civil War era Richmond newspaper editor Robert Hughes, and over 30 Confederate soldiers are interred in the “Unknown Confederate Dead” section of the cemetery. Brig. General John Hunt Morgan was placed in the above ground tomb for a few days, prior Read more...
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Christ Episcopal Church

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A Virginia historical landmark. Established October 30, 1890. Read more...
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Virginia Civil War Trails – Wilson-Kautz Raid

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In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert E. Lee the use of the South Side R.R. and the Richmond and Danville R.R., Gen. Ulysses S. Grant sent Gen. James H. Wilson and Gen. August V. Kautz south of Petersburg on a cavalry raid to destroy track and rolling stock as well as the Staunton River Bridge (Staunton River Battlefield State Read more...
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The Oaks

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Look north along Main Street and you will see Gilmer Terrace, the little park maintained by the Chatham Garden Club. Facing town on the north side of the park is the Oaks. Notice how Main Street hooks around the park? It’s really hooking around the Oaks, due to the clout of its builder, Dr. Robert Coles. Main Street was originally Read more...
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Buchanan Swinging Bridge

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The Buchanan Swinging Bridge is 366 feet long, 57.5 feet tall, the only one of its type to cross the James River. Owned by VDOT, the Swinging Bridge is a Historic Landmark. Portions of the large stone piers were constructed in 1851 for the Buchanan Turnpike Company’s Toll Bridge. Toll for every person was five cents with an additional five cents for each horse, mule Read more...
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Historic Smithfield

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Nestled along the Pagan River, Smithfield, Virginia is a quaint river-port town rich in Hams, History and Hospitality. Stepping on to Main Street in their Historic District is like stepping into a time long ago and sorely missed. A time when people acknowledged each other by name, when the ice cream parlor or country store was the center of every Read more...
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Town of Chatham Walking Tour

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Chatham was established as a town in 1777 during the turbulent years of the American Revolution. Chatham has been affectionately called the “Prettiest Little Town in Southern Virginia.” It has also been called the hub of American architecture by some, as she boasts a fine representation of pre-Revolution, Federal, Victorian, and post-Victorian architecture. Various Walking Tour brochures are available at Read more...
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Matthews Living History Farm and Museum

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The Mathews Living History Farm and Museum is a non-profit, historical and educational foundation which operates a circa 1900 homestead farm.  Farm animals, working tools and equipment of the period, a demonstration garden and scheduled events and activities for the family make this a wonderful place to spend the day.  Read more...
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Veterans Memorial

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The Veterans Memorial is comprised of a seven-foot high by 156-foot long black granite wall with the names of all local Veterans Killed In Action from the Revolutionary War to the present. The slogan “Freedom Is Not Free” is the centerpiece of the memorial. Among the 1,463 names currently carved on the Wall, 897 are from the Civil War, the Read more...
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Bluemont Presbyterian Church

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Established in 1919, Bluemont Presbyterian Church is located on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. It is considered one of the historical “rock churches” in the area, as it was encased in stone in the 1950’s. Read more...

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