Historic Sites

Lafayette United Methodist Church

This modest brick church was built in 1848 and is the center of the small community of Lafeyette. The church in on the National Register of Historic Places and should be included as a stop while visiting eastern Montgomery County. Read more...

Fieldale Community Center 1 2362ec1a 5056 a36a 07b8c9fd54743f53 768x576

Fieldale Recreation Center

The Fieldale Recreation Center is a historic building located in the heart of the Village of Fieldale, Virginia. The Village of Fieldale was born in the wake of the county’s textile boom and during the area’s industrialization in the early 1900’s. In 1917 Chicago’s Marshall Field & Company began construction of Fieldcrest Mills, a plant that would eventually cover four Read more...

44707 1c949b04 5056 a36a 070973a8770e31c6 768x576

Sallie’s Crying Tree

Behind the Marion Fire Department stands a very old oak tree. The tears that were shed on its bark have long since been washed away. They were the tears of a six year old child, purchased as a slave by Thomas Thurman in the 1840�s. Sallie would steal away daily, wrap her arms around the tree and �cry her heart Read more...

3704 1 cc963a3c 5056 a36a 077093aea6dd3b8e

Whitmell School Historic Marker

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...

33467 1b2e7dd9 5056 a36a 0749c4bac3b8ffde 768x576

The Hillsville Diner

A landmark to Hillsville since 1946, the Hillsville Diner is now the oldest continuously operating streetcar diner in the entire state of Virginia. Manufactured by the O’Mahoney company. The facility is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hillsville Historic District. Moved here from Mt. Airy, NC where a young Andy Griffith frequented. It is Read more...

Montgomery Floyd Regional Libraries

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...

John H. Kerr Dam

The dam can be driven across, and viewed from many spots including the Liberty Hill Hiking Trail, North Bend Park, the Joseph Tanner Nature Center, and the Tailrace Park which sits just below the dam. While tours are no longer offered inside of the dam, the exterior is just as impressive and can be closely observed. Read more...

young1 1be9df72 5056 a36a 077d3c32a741add3

White’s Mill

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...

42162 1aec4e7b 5056 a36a 0741a767f1b9a01b 768x464

Dickenson County Coal Miner’s Memorial

Welcome to the Dickenson County Coal Miner’s Memorial. The memorial is a tribute to the men and women who have died in the coal mines. Located beside the post office in Clinchco, Virginia, the memorial displays 309 names dating back to the early 1900’s.An online memorial has been setup to futher their memories. The online memorial shares some of the Read more...

24201 image 052651EA F6CB 1530 95EC90647FCDF027 0526512894ac3dd 3ce537c4 de5a aa51 e24201308605ce85

Sims-Mitchell House

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...

Draper Mercantile and Trading Company

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...

34108 1b295020 5056 a36a 07aa7136c5f715c1 768x576

Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker

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...

back1 6FA17F3F B2CF 8A9D BD132A8364644097 6fa17eec02fe502 111b5883 b6a5 7bda ca3b357fac769acb 768x520

Danville Places In Time Story Map

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...

0655 duffield 1b195818 5056 a36a 0706260980235a01 768x511

Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail

One of the nation’s most historic routes, the trail was blazed by the legendary frontiersman in 1775 and has become the route for hundreds of thousands of settlers of the western frontier. The driving tour follows the Wilderness Trail to Cumberland Gap as closely as possible. Read more...

15318 1bba3de7 5056 a36a 07e5979f86190367

John Fox, Jr. Museum

The museum was the home of John Fox, Jr., a famous mountain author of many novels and short stories. Most well known are “Trail of the Lonesome Pine” and “The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come”. “Trail of the Lonesome Pine” became the nation’s first million copy selling novel and was later made into a movie. An outdoor drama based on Read more...

Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church

This church was part of the original Christiansburg Institute. It was built in 1885 in honor of Union Captain Charles S. Schaeffer who founded the school. It still serves an active congregation. A small grave memorial is located in the church yard called the Principal’s cemetery. Read more...

wreck 703043CB A75F 21E0 C5795BEE04D76FD8 70304376b54edf9 11303076 f6eb 200c 870feb3c7d5759af

Wreck of the Old 97

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...

IMG 9710 cc3f592e 5056 a36a 070e9b32350156b0 768x512

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...

Greensville County Courthouse

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...

Callands Courthouse and Gaol

The clerk’s office was built around 1770 (finished about 1771) as Callands served as Pittsylvania County’s first county seat from 1767-1777. It has been restored and is available for tours with sufficient advance notice.Precious American Revolutionary history revolved around here, some 11 miles west of Chatham. A dispatch of 1775 describes a meeting in the Callands courthouse where they elected Read more...

Old Glade Presbyterian Church

Old Glade Presbyterian Church: Formed in 1772, the church has stood on the present site since 1792. Brick sanctuary constructed in 1845, with several additions added throughout the years. Confederate Brigadier General William E. “Grumble” Jones is buried in the cemetery at Old Glade Presbyterian Church. Approximately 40 other confederate veterans are interred in this cemetery, including one of the Read more...

African American Heritage Museum

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...

veterans memorial 23262463 5056 a36a 07560bae4fa61ca7 768x512

Veterans’ Memorial Park, Rocky Mount

Located along the Pigg River, Veterans’ Memorial Park is a tranquil reminder of the honor, courage, and sacrifice of local soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who served and/or lost their lives while preserving our freedoms. A central monument lists the names of the area’s fallen soldiers and the conflicts that claimed their lives, surrounding the monument are inscribed brick pavers Read more...

Town of Chatham Walking Tour

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...

34958 1b1e9e8b 5056 a36a 0706889d4270687d

Carroll County Heritage Flag Pole

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...

07picture266x200 1bb9426c 5056 a36a 07a5cf9428a209e5 768x577

Vault Museum

Step back in time to the early 1900’s, the construction of the 1908 Courthouse, and life in Grayson County. The Vault Museum features an exhibit of an early mountain home, barn and blacksmith shop. Old tools and farm implements are displayed. The Vault Museum is located on the first floor of the 1908 Grayson County Courthouse in what was formerly Read more...

Photo385989 cc9d5d84 5056 a36a 07b3ee837bcd37af

High Street Baptist Church Historic Marker

In 1865 emancipated African Americans withdrew from First Baptist Church, where they had worshiped from the balcony, and founded a congregation later known as High Street Baptist Church. Members erected their first sanctuary here in 1873. Fire destroyed that structure and its replacement, constructed in 1878. The present Romanesque Revival church was built in 1901. High Street Baptist served as Read more...

whitehead CFE74053 967B E242 CC0607DD17AF1349 cfe74001f8b7d80 ff710208 0189 996a c3ab2bade7f81b91 768x576

House of Laird

The epitome of elegance, the House of Laird has been featured in leading magazines on country inns. The Greek revival house of 1884 has served as a bed and breakfast with three guest rooms and a suite. In addition to the home, the property features beautiful gardens. Read more...

Merrimac Coal Heritage Park

This park is a walking trail through a part of the old Merrimac Coal Mines. This mine was one of the oldest anthracite mine in Montgomery County. It was a government colliery for the Confederacy and takes it name for the famed ironclad the Merrimac, which was retooled and renamed the C.S.Virginia. Coal from this mine was used to power Read more...

BR19032805P 150 1b16ef51 5056 a36a 070339e40baf3a4d 768x496

Mabry Mill

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...

Chatham Clerk’s Office

Completed in 1812 to serve the 1783 Pittsylvania courthouse, the former clerk’s office is the oldest public building in the town of Chatham. Built to be the chief repository of the county’s official records, it served from 1813 to 1852 under the charges of William Tunstall, Jr. and his son William H. Tunstall who succeeded him as clerk in 1836. Read more...

Elk Garden Church

In 1774, defenders of the Clinch River frontier built a stockade-style fort in Elk Garden. This fort was located just south of State Route 19, on land now owned by the Stuart Land and Cattle Company, and in the general vicinity of the historic Elk Garden Methodist Church. Founded in 1788, the Elk Garden Church is the second oldest church Read more...

34849 1b1f21f0 5056 a36a 07a33cd1f169bfc5

Painter Cemetery: Blue Ridge Parkway

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...

spook23 2333a4bb 5056 a36a 07e0bf63393331fa 768x512

Uptown Historic District of Stuart

Historic Uptown Stuart includes beautiful architecture, museums, many unique shopping and dining experiences on Mainstreet, two LOVE signs, a library, and an expansive park. Read more...

Roanoke Star

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...

144 1 25496ca3 5056 a36a 077a6ee9d9b58614

Historic Town of Buchanan

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...

Historic Sites

Historic Sites

Travel Tips

Things to Do

Places to Stay

Where to Eat

The Crooked Road