Booker T. Washington National Monument

Description

Elevation: 973 ft.

The National Monument is maintained as a historical example of a tobacco farm with numerous historical buildings and artifacts supported by an integrated interpretive program to explain their uses. These facilities provide easy access to fields and woodland and their associated wildlife. Birds to be seen in the area include wild turkey, mourning dove, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, northern flicker, eastern wood-pewee, eastern phoebe, eastern bluebird, gray catbird, brown thrasher, cedar waxwing, white-eyed and red-eyed vireos, indigo bunting, chipping and song sparrows, and eastern meadowlark. Less common species occurring in the area include prairie warbler, blue grosbeak and orchard oriole, while during migration a variety of warblers, vireos and tanagers could occur. The numerous plantings around the historical buildings attract a variety of butterflies including numerous swallowtails, pearl crescent and a multitude of skippers. The small stream that passes through the property is good for damselflies such as ebony jewelwing.

Eastern bluebirds, chipping sparrows, and swallows are just a few of the species on the farm. Photo Credit: Lisa Mease/DWR

Historical Notes:

Booker T. Washington was born a slave on this tobacco farm, generously referred to on occasion as a plantation. He lived here until he was nine years old when he was freed and moved with his mother to be with his stepfather in West Virginia. He later went on to become a great, early civil rights leader who stressed the importance of education. He is also responsible for the founding of the prestigious Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Directions

Physical Address: 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA 24101

From Roanoke, head south VA-116 South/Riverland Rd./Mt. Pleasant Blvd. for approximately 13.4 miles, turn left onto VA-122/Booker T. Washington Hwy., at the traffic circle take the first exit onto VA-122 South, and the entrance to the parking area is on the right in approximately 1 mile.