Historic Sites

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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...

Edgemont Christian Church

This active church was first started in the early 1800’s. The original building was converted log cabin built in 1856. It soon grew in size and the building that stands today was built in 1883. It is included on the Virginia and National Registries of Historic Places. Several Confederate soldiers rest in the adjoining cemetery. Read more...

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Danville Millionaries Row

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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Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Bristol

Emmanuel Episcopal Church is located in the Solar Hill Historic District in Bristol, Virginia. It was designed according to the same plan as a 13th century church at Sulgrave Manor in Northampton, England, an ancestral home of George Washington. Emmanuel was stablished Jan. 26, 1862 in Goodson (later known as Bristol) by 16 determined men and women, only nine of Read more...

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Cockram Mill

Cockram Mill, located near Meadows of Dan, is the oldest historic grist mill complex in Patrick County. The mill dates to about 1885, and is a two- and three-story rectangular frame building on a concrete foundation. It’s located adjacent to a concrete dam on the headwaters of the Dan River. The mill is operated by two metal turbine wheels. Associated Read more...

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Wythe/Bland Artisans and Heritage Trails

In the counties of Wythe and Bland, we are blessed with scenic beauty, historic and cultural attractions and a wealth of talented artisans that produce everything from handwoven scarves to unique sculptures made from recycled materials. This trail will lead travelers to local artisans, artisan sales centers, heritage sites and other points of interest-all telling a vibrant story of our Read more...

The Historic Bassett Train Depot

The Historic Bassett Train Depot is a landmark in the community of Bassett, Virginia. Currently the depot hosts a weekly (seasonal) Community Market on Thursdays but back in the day, it was a fully functioning passenger station. The iconic depot stands as a gathering spot for the community and hosts numerous community events throughout the year such as craft show and Read more...

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Green Hill Cemetery

Green Hill Cemetery on Lee Street in Danville is an example of the American Rural Cemetery Movement. It was established in 1863.This park-like setting has hundreds of family burial sites that include mausoleums, obelisks, family trees, and Victorian symbols for eternal life, purity and victory.Green Hill is also the location of the Confederate Monument. It is the final resting place Read more...

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Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum

Historic house museum was built in 1823. Home of Wytheville’s first resident physician. Collection includes period furnishings, personal mementos, medical records and supplies from the 1800’s, and a small museum of local artifacts. There is an herb garden with plants typically grown in the 19th. century. 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...

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...

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Interstate 101 Car

Built in 1870 for the South Carolina & Georgia Railroad, this private car was used by the president of the railroad and is one of the oldest and finest examples of typical passenger car construction of the late 19th century. Step back in time…Visit the 101 Car in Stone Gap Virginia, now located at the Southwest Virginia Museum State Park. Read more...

Town of Monterey, Headquarters Town

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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Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center and Museum

The Historic Henry County Courthouse now houses the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center and Museum in the portion of the building that was formerly the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. Exhibits on local and regional history change regularly in our Collector’s Gallery so there is always something new for everyone to enjoy. The former Deed Room is now home to a Read more...

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Dinwiddie Presbyterian Rock Church

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Plateau of Southwest Virginia in northeast Carroll County, Dinwiddie Presbyterian Church is one of six rock churches built by Rev. Bob Childress of native stone. Subject of the book, The Man Who Moved a Mountain by Richard C. Davids (1970). This is the largest of the six rock churches. Construction for the church building began 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...

Clifton Forge Downtown Historic District

The City of Clifton Forge is in western Virginia nestled in the Allegheny Mountains at the southern tip of the Shenandoah Valley and west of the Blueridge Parkway. The population is approximately 4,679. CSX Transportation’s “mountain rail line” passes through Clifton Forge which has a rich railroad history. The City is home to the Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, Read more...

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HumanKind

HumanKind is a human services nonprofit organization that has been serving children and families since 1903. We are building on more than 100 years of faithful service to provide hope and help equip people to build better lives for themselves and their families. We offer a broad range of services that foster the social, mental and financial well-being of families Read more...

Roanoke Public Libraries, Virginia Room

The Virginia Room holds the library’s special collection of historical and genealogical research resources. We comprehensively collect materials for the Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth of Virginia.The Virginia Room has the most extensive holdings for family history research in western Virginia, including thousands of family history books and files, county records and a growing collection of materials for African American 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...

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Palmer Mill

See the beauty of a replica water powered Grist Mill plus the environmental features associated with the unusual surrounding habitat. The Mill houses a community theatre and the working mechanisms from the oldest Plantation style mill in Washington County, Virginia. Previous productions have included A Tuna Christmas, You Can’t Take It With You, Annie, Steel Magnolias, Sanders Family Christmas, and Read more...

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The Buchanan Theatre

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior, the Buchanan Theatre has been recognized as Botetourt County’s oldest standing theatre. Over the years the building has been remodeled several times. Notable exterior features include the Art Deco concrete details on the facade, the neon sign and freestanding ticket booth. Inside, one finds Read more...

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JEB Stuart Highway (Route 58 West)

Head west on Route 58 from the town of Stuart on the winding road that leads to Meadows of Dan area. On your way, you will pass the scenic Lover’s Leap Overlook; Fred Clifton Park and overlook; Poor Farmers Farm, a great place for music, unique shopping; historic Cockram’s Mill and eatery located on the Dan River; Primland Resort, Patrick Read more...

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Buffalo Mountain Presbyterian Church

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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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...

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Confederate Monument

This monument was first unveiled on July 4 1907.The sculpture stands 21 feet tall and is made of cast zinc a zinc alloy-most period monuments were made of a combination bronze granite and marble. Located on the lawn of the Historic Carroll Courthouse.The monument originally stood in the middle of Main Street but was moved to its current location in Read more...

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John Weatherford’s Grave Historic Marker

One half mile west is the grave of Elder John Weatherford (1740?-1833) Baptist preacher for 70 years and early advocate of religious liberty. Jailed five months in Chesterfield in 1773 for unlicensed preaching, his release was secured by Patrick Henry. Read more...

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Southwest Virginia Museum State Park

Dedicated in 1948, the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap chronicles the exploration and development of the region. The museum houses a collection of items from the region. The collection was started by C. B. Slemp, who served in Congress from 1907 to 1923 and was President Coolidge’s personal secretary. A lovely Victorian parlor in the four-story mansion is Read more...

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Iron Bridge at Fieldale Park

The Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge was constructed in 1931 and is located in Southern Virginia. The Iron Bridge has been an important part of the community of Fieldale since its construction. When community members found out that the bridge would be destroyed to make way for a new more modern bridge, they joined forces to preserve the historic structure. A Read more...

Mecklenburg County Courthouse

The Roman Revival Mecklenburg Courthouse was built between 1838 and 1842 by area master building, William A. Howard. Read more...

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Richlands Coal Miners’ Memorial

The Coal Miners’ Memorial is a testament to the heritage of the Town of Richlands. Dedicated in 2003,the memorial is a tribute to the men/women who sacrificed all they had to make a living. The memorial sculptured by Maria Kirby-Smith depicts a miner exiting the mine. He’s covered in the toil of the day with his lunch bucket & pick Read more...

Pulaski County Library

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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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...

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Lunenburg Co. Courthouse

Master builders William A. Howard and Dabney Cosby, Sr., workmen of Thomas Jefferson, built this courthouse in 1827. The exterior stair was added later in the century. Read more...

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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...

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...

Historic Sites

Historic Sites

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The Crooked Road