Photo: NPS Photo/ VIP Bill Tucker
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Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School.
Later as an adviser, author and orator, his past would influence his philosophies as the most influential African American of his era. Come explore his birthplace.
7 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
Booker T. Washington National Monument in Hardy, Virginia, is dog-friendly and permits leashed dogs on the grounds and the Jack-O’-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail. The park offers a quiet, low-traffic…
Learn more about Bring Your Dog for a Walk to Booker T. Washington NM on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
The picnic area at Booker T. Washington National Monument sits on a shaded hillside next to the visitor center parking lot, offering a comfortable outdoor space for visitors to rest and eat. The…
Learn more about Enjoy a Picnic at Booker T. Washington National Monument on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
The Booker T. Washington Visitor Center features an exhibit providing an in-depth examination of life on a small tobacco plantation in Piedmont, Virginia. Two large circular displays help you…
Learn more about Explore Exhibits on Booker T. Washington’s Early Life on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Booker T. Washington and his family were among the four million enslaved individuals emancipated throughout the South in 1865, following the arrival of Union troops at the Burroughs Plantation in…
Learn more about Ring the Bell: A Symbolic Marker of Freedom on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Begin your visit at the Booker T. Washington Visitor Center. Pick up a park brochure and have your park passport stamped. Information desk staff are available to help you plan your visit. Kids can…
Learn more about Start at the Booker T. Washington Visitor Center on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Explore the Jack-O’-Lantern Heritage Branch Trail, a one-and-a-half-mile route through the fields and forests of Piedmont, Virginia. Much of this land was once part of the Burroughs plantation. The…
Learn more about Take a hike on the Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
A walk along the Plantation Trail evokes the atmosphere of an 1850s and Civil War-era tobacco plantation, reflecting Booker T. Washington’s childhood at the Burroughs plantation. The historic core…
Learn more about Take a Tour of the Historic Core on the Plantation Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)Showing 7 of 7
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Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Facility
The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m., except for Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Please call the park phone at…
12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA (540) 682-0173 Directions
Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM · Park Grounds
The park grounds and restrooms are open daily from 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Visitor Center Hours: The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Visitor Center is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Booker T. Washington National Monument will be closed for Thanksgiving Day, December 24 after 2 p.m., December 25 all day, and January 1 all day. The park may close early on December 31. The park closes sometimes due to inclement weather. Call the park at 540-682-0173 for more information.
| Monday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Thursday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Friday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Saturday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Sunday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
No entrance fees listed.
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Please contact the park at 540/682-0173 during inclement weather conditions to find out about closures.
Join a park ranger for a 45-minute walking tour of the site where Booker T. Washington was born and freed at the age of 9. Learn about Washington’s enslaved childhood on the Burroughs plantation and his emancipation here in 1865. All programs are only offered as weather and staffing permits.
Meet at the visitor center to hike with a ranger on the 1.5-mile Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail and learn about the nature and history of Booker T. Washington's childhood home. All programs are only offered as weather and staffing permits.
The monument is located on VA 122 (Booker T. Washington Highway), 22 miles southeast of Roanoke, VA.
From I-81 take I-581, then U.S. 220 south from Roanoke to VA 122. From the Blule Ridge Parkway take VA 43 south to VA 122. From Lynchburg take U.S. 460 west to VA 122.
Mailing address: 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA 24101
Ask about trails, fees, weather, events, or planning your visit.
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