Booker T. Washington National Monument
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Location
Hardy, Franklin County
Managed by
National Park Service
Admission
Free
Visitor center
Wednesday–Sunday; confirm current hours
Booker T. Washington National Monument preserves the site of the Burroughs farm, where Washington was born enslaved in 1856 and lived with his family until emancipation in 1865. The landscape and exhibits invite visitors to consider both his early life and the history of slavery in Virginia’s Piedmont.[1]
Start at the visitor center for exhibits, a short park film and help planning your visit. Outside, reconstructed farm buildings and two trails make it possible to explore the historic landscape at your own pace. There is no admission fee; operating hours and programs can change, so check the National Park Service’s current visitor information before setting out.[2][3]
Plan a trip to Booker T. Washington National Monument
Why visit the monument?
This is a place to connect a nationally significant life with the ground where it began. Exhibits and reconstructed buildings help visitors understand Washington’s enslaved childhood on a tobacco farm, while the trails offer time to reflect on the landscape and its history. The visit is focused and unhurried: come for the interpretation, the historic core and a walk through the surrounding fields and woods.[4]
Start here
Begin at the visitor center, near the main entrance. Its exhibits explore Washington’s early life through artifacts, photographs, documents and interactive displays. Rangers and volunteers can answer questions; visitors can also ask to see the 13-minute park film, Measure of a Man.[5]
Pick up a map or trail guide and check whether a ranger-led program is being offered during your visit. Program schedules are seasonal and may change; confirm availability with the park before traveling.
What to see and do
Visitor center exhibits
Explore displays on Washington’s early life and the experience of growing up enslaved. Ask staff about the park film and current programs.
Plantation Trail
Walk the historic core past reconstructed farm buildings, including a kitchen cabin, smokehouse, blacksmith shop and tobacco barn. Check the current park map for route details.
Jack-O’-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail
Follow a longer trail through fields and woods, with a guide available at the visitor center. The route interprets the plants, animals and landscape associated with the area.
Heritage garden
Look for the cultivated garden area, where volunteers grow heritage plant varieties associated with the mid-1800s.
Picnic area
Take a break at the picnic area near the visitor center. Check park guidance for current facilities and visitor-use rules.
History and significance
Booker T. Washington was born on April 5, 1856, on the Burroughs plantation in Franklin County. His mother, Jane, was enslaved and worked as the plantation cook; Washington, his mother and two siblings lived in a one-room cabin that also served as the kitchen. He was not free to attend school as a child, though he longed to learn.[8][9]
Washington and his family were emancipated at the end of the Civil War in 1865. He later left Virginia to pursue education, attended Hampton Institute, and became a prominent educator and public figure. The monument interprets his early years in the context of the plantation economy, slavery and emancipation, as well as the land and buildings of the Burroughs farm.[10][11]
Planning a visit
The monument is in Franklin County, near Hardy. The National Park Service gives driving directions from Rocky Mount, Roanoke and Lynchburg; public transportation to the park is not available, so plan to arrive by personal or rental vehicle.[12]
The park’s published schedule lists the grounds and restrooms as open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the visitor center as open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park may close or adjust hours because of weather or other conditions; check the official operating-hours page or call before visiting. Admission is free.[13][14]
Allow time for the visitor center and at least one walk. Wear shoes suitable for outdoor paths, and check the park’s current alerts and trail information for conditions before you go. For current information, contact the park at 540-682-0173.
Nearby attractions
Smith Mountain Lake
Explore the lake and its surrounding communities in the broader Franklin County region.
Roanoke, Virginia
A nearby city and a useful base for exploring the Blue Ridge region.
Lynchburg, Virginia
A regional destination southwest of the monument, with its own historic sites and cultural attractions.
Related books: Browse related Virginia books on Amazon
References
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Booker T. Washington Visitor Center, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Fees & Passes, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Learn About the Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Booker T. Washington Visitor Center, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Things To Do, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Places To Go, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Washington Timeline, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Quest for Knowledge, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ A Birthplace That Experienced Slavery, The Civil War and Emancipation, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Emancipation, Reconstruction, and the Meaning of Freedom, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Directions, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Operating Hours & Seasons, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Fees & Passes, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.