MCVA250 Trail Guide

We’re so glad you’re celebrating Montgomery County, Virginia’s 250th anniversary with us in 2026! From revolution to revolutionary, discover in-person how Montgomery County played an integral role in shaping the nation.

Find the corresponding attraction or historical marker on your MCVA Trail Guide for directions, quick facts, and more!

Attractions:

Attractions listed with “***” have MCVA250 Trail Guides available for pickup!

1. Addison Caldwell Statue:
   • Located at the Virginia Tech Campus in Blacksburg on the steps leading from Alumni Mall toward the Upper Quad
     • Commemorating Virginia Tech’s first student, the statue stands in memorial of Addison Caldwell, a cadet who trekked 28 miles from Craig County, Virginia to Blacksburg to enroll at the university. Located on the stairs leading up to Barracks No.1 (Lane Hall), the statue represents hard work and resilience which have long been staples of Appalachian culture.
2. Alexander Black House***
   • 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA 24060
     • Dating back to 1896, Alexander Black, a descendant of Blacksburg’s founder, William Black, built this large Queen Anne Victorian home to demonstrate how successful one could be in Southwest Virginia. Today, it houses Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation where visitors will find rotating art and historical exhibitions, programs, events, and more.
3. Christiansburg Institute Museum***
   • 125 Arrowhead Trail, Christiansburg, VA 24073
     • Honoring the legacy of the Christiansburg Institute, the first secondary school in the region to formally educate formerly enslaved people, reinvestigate African American history and experiences in rural Appalachia from emancipation to desegregation. Take part in a guided tour or workshop to deepen your understanding of local history, cultural preservation, and the lasting impact of the institute.
4. Christiansburg Town Square
   • Located in Downtown Christiansburg
     • Originally a collection of taverns and rest stops along the Great Wilderness Road, several American heroes have passed through and settled in Christiansburg throughout its history. George Washington is known to have visited the town during its early years, while Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett resided here for short periods. Today, visitors can enjoy shopping, dining, and architectural beauty.
5. Coal Mining Heritage Park & Loop Trail
   • 751 Merrimac Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24060
     • Once home to the Merrimac mining community, this 28-acre tract east of Price Mountain, which hosted a mining tipple, hotel, general store, housing for the miners, is open for visitors to explore and learn. Stroll, hike, or bike along a 1.5-mile loop trail celebrating the heritage of coal mining in Southwest Virginia.
6. Historic Cambria
   • 596 Depot St NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073
     • The railroad arrived to Cambria in 1854, forming it into a quintessential Appalachian train depot town. Featuring several original structures near the railroad tracks, visitors will find charming shops in this community.
7. Historic Courthouse Bell
   • Located in new courthouse lobby at 55 E Main St, Christiansburg, VA 24073 (past security)
     • Likely first rung in 1791, this bell was used in the cupola of the county’s former 1909 courthouse. Featuring the rustic bell and four information panels, connect the past with the present in Christiansburg.
8. Historic Smithfield***
   • 1000 Merry Oak Way, Blacksburg, VA 24060
     • The nation’s best example of colonial architecture west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, William Preston’s Smithfield was constructed in 1774. It connects Washington, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, revolution, secession, emancipation, and the Civil War all in one location. The birthplace of universities, including Virginia Tech, the historic home represents hope, promise, and tragedy of American democracy and provides a unique opportunity to gain perspective from the past, insight for the present, and inspiration for the future.
9. Meadowbrook Museum***
   • 267 Alleghany Springs Rd, Shawsville, VA 24162
     • Preserving the heritage of Eastern Montgomery County, the Meadowbrook Museum features artifacts, images, records, and first-hand accounts of years past in the region. From farm equipment to antiques, find hidden history in the museums exhibit rooms.
10. Montgomery Museum of Art & History***
    • 4 E Main St, Christiansburg, VA 24073
      • In the heart of Downtown Christiansburg, engage and connect with stories and history that shaped the region into what it is today. Find unique works from local artists, artifacts from eras past, and browse through collections of photographs from Southwest Virginia’s New River Valley.
11. Solitude & Fraction House
    • 705 W Campus Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24061
      • The oldest structure standing on the campus of Virginia Tech, the history of Solitude & Fraction House goes back an estimated 200 years. Expanded in 1851, the home serves as a multi-use Appalachian Center. Settled on the serene banks of Virginia Tech’s Duck Pond, the home is surrounded by some of the region’s most exceptional scenery.
12. St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall
    • 203 Gilbert St, Blacksburg, VA 24060
      • The social and civic center of New Town, what once was an African American community in Blacksburg, this structure served as a central, welcoming place for meetings and social gatherings.
13. The Lyric Theatre
    • 135 College Ave, Blacksburg, VA 24060
      • Originally opened in 1930, the theatre features a blend of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Catch a show or a movie and relive history in downtown Blacksburg.

Historical Markers:

1. Christiansburg Institute Site 
   • Located at the intersection of N Franklin St (Business US-460) and Scattergood Dr NE in Christiansburg, VA 24073
     • Commemorates the legacy of the Christiansburg Institute, the first secondary school in the region to formally educate formerly enslaved people.
2. Eastern Continental Divide & 1763 Proclamation Line
   • Located at the intersection of South Main St (Business US-460) and Graves Ave in Blacksburg, vA 24060
     • This line divides water flowing east to the Atlantic Ocean from water flowing west to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1763, King George III forbade Virginians to settle west of this line. Shutting off access to this land accelerated momentum in Virginia for the coming American Revolution
3. Fort Vause
   • Located on Oldtown Road (Virginia Rt 753) east of Basham Hollow Rd on the right when traveling west
     • Inspected by George Washington in 1756, Fort Vause, a composite earth-and-palisade structure, served among Virginia’s frontier defenses during the French and Indian War. The fort once stood near this sign.
4. Mary Draper Ingles
   • Located on the campus of Virginia Tech on Duckpond Dr near W Campus Dr on the right when traveling south
     • After being attacked at the nearby Draper’s Meadow settlement, captured, and taken to Ohio by members of the Shawnee Tribe in 1755 during the French and Indian War, Mary Draper Ingles famously followed the river some 800 miles back home.
5. Montgomery County Bicentennial
   • Located at the intersection of W Main St (US Rt 11) and N Franklin St (Business US 460) on the right when traveling west
     • This marker, erected in 1976, commemorates Montgomery County’s Bicentennial.
6. White Sulphur Springs
   • Located at the Northbound Rest Area at I-81 milepost 129 on the right when traveling north near Lafayette, VA
     • Near this marker stood Montgomery White Sulphur Springs, a popular resort in the 1800s. During the Civil War, it was converted into a military hospital.

Additional MCVA250 Trail Guide Pickup Locations:

1. Antiques On Main***
   • 4 W Main St STE B, Christiansburg, VA 24073
2. Blacksburg Community Center***
   • 725 Patrick Henry Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24060
3. Blacksburg Town Hall***
   • 300 S Main St, Blacksburg, VA 24060
4. Cambria Station Antiques & Old New River Books***
   • 596 Depot St NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073
5. Christiansburg Aquatic Center***
   • 595 N Franklin St, Christiansburg, VA 24073
6. Christiansburg Recreation Center***
   • 1600 N Franklin St, Christiansburg, VA 24073
7. Christiansburg Town Hall***
   • 100 E Main St, Christiansburg, VA 24073
8. Downtown Blacksburg Inc.***
   • 318 N Main St, Blacksburg, VA 24060
9. Friends of Southwest Virginia***
   • One Heartwood Cir, Abingdon, VA 24210
10. Lambsburg Welcome Center
    • Mile Marker 0, I-77, Lambsburg, VA 24351
11. Meadowbrook Public Library***
    • 267 Alleghany Spring Rd, Shawsville, VA 24162
12. Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce***
    • 210 Laurel St NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073
13. Montgomery County Government Center***
    • 755 Roanoke St # 1A, Christiansburg, VA 24073
14. Montgomery-Floyd Regional Libraries***
    • 125 Sheltman St, Christiansburg, VA 24073 
    • 200 Miller St SW, Blacksburg, VA 24060
15. QCowork***
    • 105 Roanoke St E, Blacksburg, VA 24060
16. Virginia Vintage***
    • 3980 Mud Pike, Christiansburg, VA 24073

Click here for more information on MCVA250!