Category: ATTRACTIONS

Over 43 million Americans can trace their heritage to the families that migrated along the Wilderness Road. It sums up the iconic meaning of the lives of Daniel Boone and the thousands of settlers who poured after him though the great gap into Kentucky. In its various forms as frontier trail, wagon road, stage route, and antebellum turnpike, the road directed pilgrims and travelers to the West. Whatever your background, as the starting point for the settlement of the West, the Great Migration Route over the Cumberland Gap tells your story as an American. We invite you to blaze your own trail of discovery along the Wilderness Road and relive America's unique history and heritage. 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE Roanoke, VA 24016 (540) 342-6025

The Vinton Museum is an EDUCATIONAL, FUN and FREE experience for everyone! The museum is home to thousands of items that relate to the history of Vinton and the surrounding communities within the Roanoke Valley. Some of the items date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Indian arrowheads, porcelain dolls, china, hand-made dough bowls, WWII memorabilia, a variety of period clothing, and a host of items from Vinton schools. We also have a vast collection of photographs taken in and around Vinton that capture the essence of the time period in which they were taken. The majority of the museum items were generously donated by individuals that realize the importance of historical preservation. 210 E. Jackson Avenue Vinton, VA 24179 (540) 342-8634

One of only two homes Thomas Jefferson designed for his personal use, the Poplar Forest retreat was the place where Jefferson “came to indulge in the life of mind and renew his personal creativity.” Jefferson and his wife, Martha, inherited the Bedford County plantation known as Poplar Forest from her father in 1773. When his presidency ended in 1809, Jefferson visited the retreat three or four times a year, often staying for several months at a time during planting seasons. Designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior, and nearly lost to development, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains was rescued in 1984 by a group of local citizens who sought to preserve it for the cultural and educational benefit…

From the upper James River west to the Cumberland Gap, Southwest Virginia is steeped in history and folklife. This Guide is published by Ferrum College's Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, The State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore, to help visitors better explore the regional heritage of the Virginia highlands. Both the tourist and the researcher will find listings here to meet their interests. 20 Museum Drive, Ferrum College Ferrum, VA 24088 (540) 365-4416

Located in the historic William-Brown House of Longwood Park, the Salem Museum serves the community by "preserving the past, informing the future." Through exhibits, programs, special events and preservation, the Salem Historical Society keeps the past of Salem and the Roanoke Valley alive. Free admission, donations accepted. 801 East Main Street Salem, VA 24153 (540) 389-6760

Raymond Loewy, Designer For A Modern Era is a free gallery operated by the Historical Society of Western Virginia in the former N&W Passenger Station where Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is quartered. This exhibit chronicles the career of industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Loewy, known for streamlined, modern designs was heralded for his work on the Pennsylvania Railroad Locomotives: T1, S1, and especially the redesigned GG1. Working with Pennsylvania Rail Road led to his relationship with the N&W and the overhaul of the Passenger station in Roanoke, then the headquarters city of the Norfolk and Western. The redesign of the station involved removing the heavy brick facade and replacing it with a sleek glass and metal front to create a more open look. Throughout the 1948 and 1949 renovation, decorative elements…

Virginia`s largest residential historic district. Meeting Facilities: The Gish House, located in Highland Park, can be rented for weddings, business meetings or gatherings of any sort. The Gish House was built circa 1838 - one of Roanoke`s oldest structures and is a historic landmark. The building and grounds can be rented for $200.00 a day. The Gish House meeting space consists of a fireplace room, a library/dressing room and a meeting room. 641 Walnut Avenue SW Roanoke, VA 24016 (540) 343-8794

Come visit the Old Brick Hotel where past boarders include lawyers and judges, hot springs visitors, and maybe Jesse James. It was built in three stages beginning in 1840 across the street from the Craig County Courthouse and was the center of town through the boom times of the early 1900s. In 1982, the newly-formed Craig County Historical Society began restoration efforts, all done with donations and volunteer labor; no government funds. Now, every room on three floors is furnished to showcase local history, from CCC camp #1368 to the 28th Virginia Regiment; from rope beds to Victorian parlor sets. In 1999 and 2001, the Society relocated two log cabins-- one next door, the other a half block away near IGA. New items were added to the Keffer Cabin spring…

The National D-Day Memorial, located in Bedford, VA, sustained the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation. The nine acre memorial features an English garden, invasion tableau and victory arch symbolically recreating the D-Day journey from planning to battle to victory. Admission Rates: $10.00 adults, $8.00 veterans and active military, $6.00 children (ages 6-18) or with valid college ID, children under 6 are FREE. Visitors are asked to check-in and purchase tickets at the foot of the Memorial at the Bedford Area Welcome Center. Guided walking tours (included in the admission price) are scheduled between 10 AM - 4 PM and are approximately 50 minutes in length. Tour times are posted outside the Gift Shop and tours depart from the deck of the Memorial's Gift Shop. Please ask for…

The Martin Luther King Jr. statue at the Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge in Downtown Roanoke stands as a 7-foot tall bronze statue that was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Jeffery and Anna Varilla. The bridge, formerly known as the Henry Street Bridge, was renamed and dedicated in honor of Dr. King in 2008. The spot used to serve as a symbol of segregation in the city as it divided Downtown Roanoke from the Gainsboro neighborhood. Now, the bridge and statue feature quotes from Dr. King and it serves as a powerful symbol of the region's rich African American heritage and history. It's also located near the former Hotel Dumas on Henry Street, which was known for being the spot of legendary late-night jam sessions with musical icons like…