Booker T. Washington National Monument

Booker T. Washington National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in Virginia.

In the park service’s words

Booker T. 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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Start at the Booker T. Washington Visitor Center (15 to 60 Minutes): 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 ask for a Junior Ranger activity book. Explore exhibits about Booker T. Washington's early life, from his birth into enslav
• Explore Exhibits on Booker T. Washington’s Early Life (15 to 60 Minutes): 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 experience what life was like for Booker T. Washington, who was born into enslavement in 1856, during the years leading up to an
• Ring the Bell: A Symbolic Marker of Freedom (5 to 10 Minutes): 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 Hale’s Ford, Franklin County. Although historical records do not confirm whether Union troops or formerly enslaved individua
• Bring Your Dog for a Walk to Booker T. Washington NM (30 to 60 Minutes): 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 environment for walking dogs, with short, accessible trails and a combination of historical and natural features. Please
• Take a Tour of the Historic Core on the Plantation Trail (30 to 60 Minutes): 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 includes points of interest and reconstructed mid-19th-century buildings. The Plantation Trail forms a 0.55-mile loop, pass
• Take a hike on the Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail (45 to 90 Minutes): 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 tour begins after you pass the tobacco barn. In about 0.2 miles, you will reach an intersection that marks the start of th
• Enjoy a Picnic at Booker T. Washington National Monument (30 to 120 Minutes): 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 picnic area is part of the monument’s grounds, which include a visitor center, a historical core, and walking trails. This lo

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. 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.

Getting there

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.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Visitor Center: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed 10:00AM - 4:00PM; Thu 10:00AM - 4:00PM; Fri 10:00AM - 4:00PM; Sat 10:00AM - 4:00PM; Sun 10:00AM - 4:00PM. The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The park grounds and restrooms are open daily from 9:00 am-5:00 pm. 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.

Weather

Please contact the park at 540/682-0173 during inclement weather conditions to find out about closures.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is New River Gorge, about 99 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Booker T. Washington National Monument (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.