Located on US-29 north of Danville near Chatham, this marker points out the nearby home of a local…read morepolitician from the antebellum era before the Civil War. The marker reads, "One mile east stands Belle Grove, the home of Whitmell Pugh Tunstall (1810-1854). Educated at Danville Academy and the University of North Carolina, Tunstall was admitted to the bar in 1832. He served in the House of Delegates (1836-1841; 1845-1848) and the Senate of Virginia (1841-1842). As a delegate representing Pittsylvania County, he fought for a decade to charter the Richmond and Danville Railroad (part of the present-day Norfolk Southern Railway). He served as the company's first president from 1847 until his death. Tunstall is buried at Belle Grove." Online, there is more information. "Whitmell Pugh Tunstall was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was educated at Danville Academy and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A railroad was a revolutionary idea in the 1830s, which had the confidence of very few people at the time. However, the greatest opposition in the southern portion of Virginia came from those along the Roanoke River who ran the Roanoke Navigation Company and its system of canals. They feared a rival in the transportation business. It was not until 1845 that petitions were again introduced. Finally, after a struggle of nine years, the charter was granted on March 9, 1847. Whitmell Pugh Tunstall died on February 19, 1854 of typhoid fever, 2 years before the railroad he had long sought was completed." [Review 15064 overall, 566 of 2021, number 1283 in Virginia.]

Continuing my scrapbook series representing July 2024 is Booker T. Washington National Monument…read more My girlfriend took me here on our first trip to Smith Mountain Lake where her parents have a home. This park was impressive with the historic dwellings you can view and expansive scenic hiking trails.

Whether you're a history buff or someone looking for a beautiful place to stretch your legs, this…read morenational monument is worth a stop. Booker T Washington was born into slavery on this plantation, later freed during the Civil War and went on to become an educator, author and political activist. You can learn more about his life inside the visitor center as well as from the information boards scattered throughout the property. I highly recommend a walk on the Jack o' Lantern loop trail which is about 2 miles long and takes you past old buildings and through the woods. Dogs are also allowed on the trail if they are on a leash. The visitor center is open from 10am-4pm and the grounds are open from 9am-5pm with the exception of some major holidays. And there is no fee to visit!

This is a great walking trail in the heart of rockingham county, Wentworth. It's right next door to…read morethe old Chinqua Penn mansion, which is now closed. The parking lot is semi well lighted but they do close the trail at night. Not officially like with a gate or anything, but I wouldn'r stay out there after dark because there is no lighting on the trail. During the walk, you'll get to see a pond, koi pond, cows, water fall and most likely a lot of critters. Dogs are always welcome there leashed. We take our German Shepherd on walks there and she loves it. We let her play in the creek during the hike. I believe it's 1.5 miles total. I wouldn't say it's a hard hike by any means, but there are some hills throughout. They do have benches in case you need to take a break. Very pretty and a great place to relax and get some steps in.

Talk about a hidden gem in Reidsville! This trail was absolutely beautiful. Over a mile and a half…read morewalk that completes the trail. We stumbled across some birds and cows. Everything appeared well maintained and clean which was lovely. There are benches throughout the pathway where you may enjoy some sightseeing. Do stay hydrated during the hotter days, there are no shortcuts back to the parking lot. It is one way in and one way out that loops for roughly 1.6 miles. Overall a great experience. Dog-friendliness: Doggies are allowed.

We went to Avoca museum for a special event that they were doing for the Kentucky Derby. It was set…read moreup like a wedding reception. They had lots of TVs and the food that was served was really good. We were also serenaded with a really cool jazz band. They offered bourbon tasting and cigars. We also were given a tour of the museum. The house itself is beautiful and full of charm and has a lot of great history. It is a great place to go visit especially when they do fun events like this. Not just an every day kind of celebration. We met lots of nice people and the staff was amazing.

Hi everyone, I went to the Avoca Museum today. It was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. I highly…read morerecommend you check it out especially since it is free to the public.

Jefferson's retreat home is very lovely. The home's exterior renovation is complete. The interior…read moreis not complete. But the "bones" of the interior are very nice and you can just imagine Jefferson walking through the octagonal shaped home. The home has been owned by several families who updated it with modern conveniences, showers, plumbing, etc. All of that had to be ripped out completely to restore the home to the way it was when Jefferson occupied it. He had a marvelous eye for design! The families that lived in it after Jefferson's death, changed many of his ideas...took out some of the windows from the original design, etc and pretty much took away the beautiful symmetry. There was also a fire that destroyed the original wood. But the restoration team researched through Jefferson's letters and built it back to the original plans. And it is a beautifully designed retreat home where Jefferson came to escape the pressures of public life. The archaeology dig is not complete in the Front & Back lawns.. But being able to see the different areas 'unearthed' while they dig for history is fascinating. And this makes it a very interesting tour. There are many artifacts displayed that were found on the grounds that speak volumes about the history of Poplar Forest. We are so glad we visited this beautful homesite and we hope that the restoration efforts will continue. The crews have done a superior job with the work they have done so far. And we just want extend our appreciation to them for saving this historical landmark.. It gives everyone a little more opportunity to peer into Jefferson's beautiful mind. He was way ahead of his time. Thank you!

While visiting friends in the Lynchburg area, we went here and opted for a self guided tour. The…read morehouse is small and a lot of it is not been restored. Similar layout concept as Monticello but on a smaller scale. It is a beautiful area and the house is very interesting. The grounds around the house have not been maintained well which is unfortunate. The garden walls are collapsing and several dead trees/plants. However, I know that this is a foundation and funding can be an issue. They also put on plays on the south lawn at various times which would be a fun event to attend. There is also a new looking walking trail on the entrance drive in and it had a lot of people there on the morning that we visited.

My husband and I (we live in NC) and 2 of our friends (they live in Ohio) toured the house and…read moregardens in September. Shaun Spencer-Hester gave us a wonderful tour! She really brought Anne and Edward Spencer back to life. She was a pleasure to be with and made our tour so enjoyable! I am from Lynchburg, Va. I had heard of Anne Spencer, since I was a child, from my father. What a joy it was to see her home, her garden and purchase her book - Half My Life (great read). Amelia Jane F.

This famous poet's home is a museum now. It is viewed by appointment only, but is worth it. There's…read morealso a garden in the summer. Great for poetry enthusiasts and others who appreciate literature.

I've seen many memorials dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But none so memorable and of such…read morelocal and national historical significance as this one. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge in Downtown Roanoke, formerly known as the First Street Bridge and Henry Street Bridge, features engraved quotes and a 7-foot bronze statue of Dr. King wearing a business suit with his arms outstretched overlooking the historic Gainsboro neighborhood. The granite pedestal includes a relief panel of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King marching in Washington, D.C. The statue was sculptured by the husband and wife sculptor team of Jeffrey H. Varilla and Anna Koh Varilla (whose studio is Koh-Varilla Guild in Chicago), and stands at the north side of the MLK Jr. Memorial Bridge. Even before knowing the history behind this area when I first moved to Roanoke, crossing over the bridge and seating on one of the benches facing the Statue of Dr. King brought me great interior peace and hope for the future. These interactive benches near the memorial statue are equipped with speakers. One can press buttons to listen to clips of Dr. Kings iconic speeches. Historically, this crossing was a symbol of segregation, dividing Downtown Roanoke from the historically African American Gainsboro neighborhood. But today it serves as an important landmark honoring the region's rich African American Heritage, civil rights history, and acts as a gathering place to celebrate these and move forward. The statue and bridge were dedicated in 2008. This site is open to the public year-round. I highly recommend and encourage you to give it a visit whenever you're in the area, considering it is a powerful landmark for reflection on the civil rights history.

This narrow pedestrian bridge (formerly the First Street Bridge, later the Henry Street Bridge)…read morecarries people across the railroad tracks between downtown Roanoke and the Gainsboro neighborhood. Repaired and reopened to traffic in 2008, it no longer carries vehicles but only pedestrians and bicycles. At the one end of the bridge is a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King with some benches. From the bridge, you can look down into the railyard where the Norfolk & Southern and the Amtrak Northeast Regional trains pass. The bridge is 316 feet long and is a steel pony truss. It is the last steel truss bridge in Roanoke. It is in good condition though I wouldn't recommend walking barefoot across it. [Review 13794 overall, 1116 of 2020, number 1228 in Virginia.]

This 48-foot span bridge built of oak crosses the Smith River. It was constructed in 1914 by…read moreCharles Vaughan of the Buffalo RIdge area and designed by Walter Weaver of Woolwine. It is a single-span queenpost truss. It is the only historic covered bridge remaining in Patrick County and is maintained by the Patrick County government. The Jack's Creek Covered Bridge was widened and received a new roof in 1969, followed by a full restoration by the Virginia Department of Highways in 1974, at a cost of approximately $4,550. Every June, the bridge is the site of the Patrick County Covered Bridge Festival. The bridge is in pristine condition and is open to the public though of course it is not open to vehicular traffic. It has been replaced by an adjacent boring concrete bridge. [Review 13754 overall, 1075 of 2020, number 1189 in Virginia.]