The cabin was occupied from its beginning (circa 1795) through the 1960s. See the many visible indicators of the numerous transitional modernization periods the cabin has experienced. The original builders of the cabin probably never envisioned the cabins life expectancy nor the influence its occupants would have on the cultural developments. Enjoy the stories relating to the various families occupying Read more...
Historic Sites
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Historic Sites
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Indian fields, part of James Thompson’s original tract inherited from his Grandfather, James Patton in the 1700’s. James Thompson fought at King’s Mountain. A Cherokee Indian uprising brought about the building as the neighborhood fort. The log and stone house was constructed around 1765. It was used for field slaves quarters in 1843. Pleasant Smith bought the property and made Read more...
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Get ready to look back in time with Danville Places In Time Story Map! View the landscape from the eyes of a visitor from decades ago with photos from as early as 1954. In our walkable River District, use your phone to transport you back in time with this story map. So what are you waiting for? Click the link Read more...
Founded in 1878 as a two-room school and named for state senator Whitmell P. Tunstall, in 1918 the Whitmell Farm-Life School became the first rural consolidated school in Pittsylvania County. Sarah Archie Swanson Beverley, who between 1916 and 1951 taught here and served as principal, believed that “the country school must be the center of community life.” Under her leadership, Read more...
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The Reynolds Homestead is an outreach facility of Virginia Tech located in Critz. It features the fully-restored Rock Spring Plantation House, the birthplace and boyhood home of tobacco manufacturer R.J. Reynolds. Built in 1843, the two-story brick home has been restored to its nineteenth century state and includes many of the original family furnishings. The grounds include the original brick Read more...
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This is a focal point to downtown Hillsville. The property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was the county’s second. Construction for the building took place between 1872 and 1874. Architecture of the structure combines two traditional courthouse forms: the arcaded front and the porticoed temple form with flanking wings. It has a Doric portico in Read more...
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Workshops available for Highland Farm Baskets in the Old Appalachian Style. 85 Acre working farm, raising Scottish Highland Cattle (Heritage Breed). Occasional live music. Read more...
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One of the preeminent collections of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the South, Millionaires’ Row is a symbol of Danville’s — and the South’s — history. At least one house has a place in the chronicles of the Civil War and many were built by those who prospered from tobacco and textiles. Five architecturally distinctive churches grace Millionaires’ Row, serving Read more...
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The mission of the Grandin Theatre Foundation is to preserve the historic Grandin Theatre as a cultural and educational resource devoted to film and the cinematic arts for Western Virginia. The Theatre, built in 1932, is a historic, non-profit movie cinema with four screens featuring the finest in first-run, foreign, documentary, independent and children’s programming. Box Office: 540-345-6177, web: www.grandintheatre.com Read more...
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Visit the church which was named as a memorial to Madam Russell, Patrick Henry’s sister. Walk through the original portion of the church and see many beautiful features, including the magnificent stain glass windows. Tour the replica cabin of Madam Russell and enjoy stories of her tremendous influence throughout the years. The lives that Madam Russell touched are limitless, by Read more...
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Oakwood Cemetery is Martinsville’s oldest public cemetery. The original cemetery charter was dated April 23, 1883. A cemetery committee consisting of J.R. Brown, C.P. Kearfott and C.D. Keffer was appointed by the Martinsville Town Council. Around the same time, 83/4 acres were purchased from Dr. James Moss Smith for $50 per acre to establish the site. The town of Martinsville Read more...
While searching for his lost brother who fought in the French-Indian War, James Mayo Hoge instead found his true love, Elizabeth Howe, and together they built a home on land they called Hayfield (now Belle-Hampton) in 1767. James Mayo Hoge fought courageously in the Revolutionary War along with his father-in-law, Joseph Howe and brother-in-law, Daniel Howe who lived next door Read more...
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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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The Montgomery Museum of Art and History is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of Montgomery County, Virginia and the region as well as promoting art by regional artists. As the region’s steward of art and history, the museum takes great pride in inspiring and educating through cultural programming. Additionally, the institution facilitates important Read more...
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The Halifax County Historical Society’s mission is to preserve historical facts, artifacts, and structures of Halifax County and to disseminate historic information to the public. Its latest project is to complete an architectural history of the county. The Society has published/reprinted, to date, sixteen books and has completed two American Revolution exhibits telling the story of the Crossing of the Read more...
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This courthouse was built in 1831 by Daniel Lynch. The elaborate portico was added in the early 20th century. An 1894 clerk’s office stands on the courthouse green. The courthouse square was the scene of military action during the Civil War. Read more...
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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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Discover a place where Main Street meets the mountains, downtown Buchanan. Nestled within the steep slopes of the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains the Town’s Main Street straddles the James River. An important stopping point for travelers since the 1700’s, Buchanan offers scenic beauty and an historic setting. Explore more than 200 years of history as you walk our Main Street, paddle the James River, peddle the Read more...
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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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The original town of Blacksburg (the largest town in Virginia) consisted of sixteen square blocks, each made up of 4 lots. Many of the buildings are original 100 to 200-year-old structures. Read more...
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Nestled in the Blue Ridge Plateau of Southwestern (Carroll County) Virginia, the Buffalo Mountain Presbyterian Church is the “Mother Church” of six rock churches established by Rev. Bob Childress. Subject of the book, The Man Who Moved a Mountain, by Richard C. David (1970), the BMPC is the largest of the six rock churches. The church was organized in 1927, Read more...
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Martinsville-Henry County, VA is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails with an official historic marker located in Uptown Martinsville in the Courthouse Plaza. The marker sits across from the front-side of the former Henry County Courthouse, which is now the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum. Along with a few pictures, the Martinsville-Henry County Civil War Trail historic marker Read more...
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The Fayette Street Historic District awaits your discovery for local history. The district continues to represent the commercial and institutional center of the African-American community in Martinsville as one of its oldest neighborhoods. The 42-acre district includes 116 historically contributing buildings with architecture reflective of a number of styles: Late Victorian, Queen Anne; Late 19th & 20th century Revivals, Colonial Read more...
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Just across Main Street from the Oaks is the charming little house built by Dr. Richard White, fellow physician and racing crony of Dr. Robert Coles from whom he bought the land. An early resident says the first section was built in 1810, but the official date for the second section is 1837. Close inspection reveals differences in the left Read more...
HOURS 12 PM to 5 PM : Our New Children’s Library Showcases Achievements of African Americans. Photos, Stories and Memorabilia tell a History of African American Education in Wythe County. Free Admission, Donations Appreciated A non-profit community organization was established in 2000 to preserve the historic Wytheville Training School. The school was constructed in 1882 for African American children and Read more...
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The community, founded in 1810, was the Pulaski County seat through much of the 1800s. The district, a national historic landmark, encircles the entire community and contains 26 of the original log or wooden buildings including an inn which served as a stagecoach stop, a jail, hanging house, store, churches and several private residences. The Wilderness Road Regional Museum includes rooms furnished Read more...
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In the more than 250 years since Mary Draper Ingles was captured by Shawnee warriors, escaped and made her historic return journey to the New River Valley of Virginia, much has been written and produced about the preeminent colonial heroine. Mary represents hundreds of women who survived capture and returned to their log cabin homes during the early settlement of Read more...
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The local library at Pulaski is a great place to start for family genealogy research. The library offers online resources like Ancestry.com library edition, Heritage Quest, and county newspapers on microfilm. Special Collections in the genealogy section include books on courthouse records, local and family histories, books by Mary Kegley and other rare titles. A good selection of books are Read more...
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Beautiful location that has been photographed and painted many times. Restored gristmill/sawmill/woodworking shop and blacksmith shop. Old time skills (basket weaving, seat caneing, spinning, and weaving) demonstrated. Read more...
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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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Special Collection houses a vast array of letters, journal, pictures, and diaries. Includes a Manuscript Collection for the American Civil War, Online exhibits, ImageBase Collection, and Digital Library and Archives. Also has direct link to the Civil War Institute which is likewise on the campus of Virginia Tech. Hours: M-F 8:00AM-5:00PM and by appointment Read more...
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The reference library collection is housed inside Historic Smithfield Plantation house. It includes Preston Family information, Colonial and early Virginia information, and local historical data. Hours: 10:00 AM-5:00 Mon, Tues, Thru, Fri, Sat. Read more...
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For the heritage traveler seeking former homesites of Colonial Patriots, Henry County was briefly the residence of none other than Patrick Henry – its namesake. While his stay was brief, 1779-1784, his legacy is permanent in the form of a large 10-foot tall grantite monument erected in 1922 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. A small grassy park setting Read more...
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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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On September 27, 1903, the southbound Southern Railway express mail freight train, ‘Old 97’, ran off the tracks at Stillhouse Trestle and crashed into the ravine below. Eleven people died and six were injured. This event inspired the ballad “The Wreck of the Old 97” which was first recorded by G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter. The historic marker is located Read more...
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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...































