In Radford, trace the history that began in 1762 when William and Mary Draper Ingles established Ingles Ferry at a spot on the New River between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Then in 1796, an enterprising settler built a tavern on the stagecoach route. The tavern was called Lovely Mount andincluded a general store and blacksmith shop. . It was the beginning of a commercial center. Radford's featured stops on the Wilderness Road include:...
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 a pressed metal ceiling, knotty pine paneling and a curved wall around the concession area...
The Grove, an antebellum Greek Revival estate, built by John Stafford Hale and his wife, Margaret Ingles Saunders Hale, great-granddaughter of Mary Draper Ingles [see Thom's "Follow the River" for her story of capture by and escape from the Shawnee in 1755] , is open for tours, by appointment only. Confederate General Jubal A. Early's law office is on the grounds. Ornate plasterwork, crown moldings, floor-length board in the floors, original plantation hearth in a...
Discover firsthand why Buchanan captures the hearts of so many.An important stopping point for travelers since the 1700’s, Buchanan offers visitors the quintessential small-town America experience.Whether you are planning an afternoon shopping spree, or a weekend getaway, include Buchanan as part of your itinerary. Surround yourself in the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains while you discover more than two hundred years of history.Historic storefronts, beautiful flowers, antiques, art, Amish furniture, Virginia Made Products, primitives, Oriental Carpets, textiles, hunting supplies and...
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 honoring hundreds of local veterans. The park features well maintained landscaping with quiet places to...
Waid Recreation Area is a 220-acre facility located near Rocky Mount (off Rt. 40 West), along the site of the Old Carolina Wagon Trail. The park has 14 trails that cover over 10 miles and travel through rivers, over hills, across farm lands, and atop abandoned dirt roads. It offers a variety of outdoor activities for all ages including tubing, fishing, canoeing and kayaking on the Pigg River which flows through the park. It hosts various...
The former Norfolk & Western (N&W) Freight Station, now known as the Rocky Mount Train Depot, is a rare surviving railroad station with historical significance for its role in the development of Rocky Mount as an agricultural and manufacturing center. Built in 1907 by N&W, this elongated one-story rectangular wood frame building (a typical example of standard-issue corporate design) served as part of N&W's Winston Salem District as a combination station handling both freight shipments...
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 US Bicentennial Bike Route, hike the Appalachian Trail, cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway or ride the Glen...
Constructed in 1890, the former Reynold's Restaurant, now known as Kay's Corner, is one of the last remaining frame commercial buildings in Rocky Mount's Central Business District. This historically important building functioned as a restaurant with apartments at the entrance to town at Route 40. It was probably the first commercial structure to be encountered when entering Rocky Mount from the west on Route 40 at the turn-of-the-twentieth-century.This two-story frame building (composition-wood siding) contains its...
One of the most important buildings in Franklin County is the white-painted Beaux-arts Roman Revival Courthouse dominating "Uptown" Rocky Mount facing the southern end of Main Street (U.S. 220 South Business). The massive two-story Franklin County Courthouse with its wide three-bay portico was constructed in 1909 from plans of the well-known Roanoke architect H.H. Huggins. The current courthouse replaced the previous 1786 log structure and the 1831 brick courthouses that faced E. Court Street. A...
