We are always impressed when we visit a site run by the National Parks Service and Booker T. Washington National Monument was no exception. It is a perfect place to learn about history in an interactive way for kids and adults. Washington was one of, if not the, most influential African-Americans of his era. This park does an awesome job telling his story.
Booker T. Washington National Monument is located on the site of the plantation owned by James and Elizabeth Burroughs. Booker T. (sorry wrestling fans) is located just outside of Hardy, Virginia – about a 20 minute drive from Roanoke. It is the place where Washington was born and where he was when he heard the Emancipation Proclamation read, freeing him from slavery. This was such a powerful park to visit and one where we left changed. Here is what you can do in and around this impressive National Monument.
Learn About The Life Of Booker T. Washington
One of the reasons that this site left such an impression on us is because they did such a good job of transporting you to the life of a slave in pre-Civil War Virginia. There is no way that we could ever fully comprehend the pain, hurt, and fear that these men and women went through every day but we left with a little bit more understanding. Washington was nine years old when he was freed, about the same age of our son now, and it tore up our hearts to think of our kid in his shoes. In a strange way it brought us together as a family and allowed us to see how lucky we are to have each other.
There is a great fifteen minute video on the life of Washington in the welcome center/museum. It is a great place to start. After you watch that, check out the statue of young Washington at the age of nine when he was freed. Silas wanted to stand next to it and it really gave him some perspective. From there you can go through the interactive museum where you can learn what it was like to be a slave on the farm. After doing some of the labor that Washington was forced to do, our son had a new appreciation for everything that he went through. It really was a great learning experience.
Walk The Farm
This property is an actual working farm. It is a re-creation of an 1850’s tobacco farm. The farm has a small tobacco field, vegetable gardens, and a flower garden. You can learn about the farming techniques used during the time of Washington.
You can also check out some of the animals that were around the farm back in the 1800’s. There are some humongous pigs who were busy wallowing in the mud when we were there. They have a herd of sheep in a pasture, a couple of horses, and a bunch of chickens. The animal that rules them all is the turkey. That thing is loud and knows its place at the top. That thing cracked us up the way it was walking around. All of the animals are in fenced in areas, so don’t worry about being attacked by a turkey.
Take A Hike at Booker T. Washington National Monument
Booker T. has about two miles of trails. The first trail is a short quarter-mile loop that takes you through the historic area of the park. You can walk through the re-created farm area and buildings of the Burroughs Plantation. There are numerous buildings that you can check out that are open for you to explore. We had a good time checking out the blacksmith area and handling the 19th century tools. They do historical reenactments where people are in full costume working around the farm. Check the website for times and dates.
Make sure you grab a Junior Ranger Workbook if you are with kids for even more interactive fun (and who doesn’t love that Junior Ranger Badge). You can ring the bell that Washington ran out to ring when the Emancipation Proclamation was read, check out the kitchen, or the old tobacco barn.
The other trail is the 1.5 mile Jack-O-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail. This trail takes you through the woods and through open fields. You can check out a super old cemetery while you are walking around. There are also guides that you can pick up in the visitor center so you won’t miss a thing.
Grab A Bite At The Farm Market
This is not on the National Monument property, but everyone needs to eat here. We asked the Park Rangers where the best place to grab a bite and in unison they both said The Homestead Creamery Farm Market. It was about a ten minute drive from Booker T. and we would have driven ten times that for this experience. They have incredible sandwiches and sides that are made with the freshest ingredients straight from the farm. They also have a little general store section where you can buy all sorts of goodies for the road.
The highlight of this place though is the ice cream. This is seriously some of the best ice cream we have ever had. Megan especially loved it because the mint chocolate chip didn’t have the fake green dye in it. It was all fresh and incredibly good. We were told that the line can get long here. We went after the lunch crowd and didn’t wait too long. All of the food is made fresh to order but it is well worth it. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area.
We did Booker T. Washington National Monument while on an epic Southwest Virginia Day trip. Our day trip travel guide is packed with ideas for a visit to this area and a full day plan!
What are some National Parks you have visited where you have walked away changed? What are some stories through the National Park Service you have learned that have inspired you?
