Things to do in Farmville
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Region
Virginia's Heartland
Type
Historic college town
Best for
History, art, walking and cycling
Known for
Moton Museum and High Bridge Trail
Farmville makes an inviting stop in Virginia’s Heartland, with a walkable historic center and easy access to outdoor recreation. Start with the student-led story preserved at the Moton Museum, browse exhibitions at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, or follow the former rail corridor toward High Bridge. The bridge is the standout, but the town’s downtown streets and college-town energy make it worth slowing down for. [1]
Plan a trip to Things to do in Farmville
Why go
Farmville brings together several experiences that work well in a day or an unhurried weekend: a landmark in the history of school desegregation, a state park trail that runs through town, and a compact downtown with historic buildings and an art museum. Its character is shaped in part by Longwood University and nearby Hampden-Sydney College, giving the small town a distinct college-town feel. [2]
Highlights
Walk or ride the wide, generally level rail trail and cross High Bridge above the Appomattox River. The state park’s trail extends 32.2 miles across the region; check current trail notices before setting out.
Moton Museum
Visit the former Robert Russa Moton High School, where students led a 1951 walkout protesting unequal school conditions. Exhibitions follow the local struggle for educational equality and its connection to the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Confirm visitor hours and tour arrangements before you go.
Historic downtown and Main Street
Take the town’s self-guided walking tour through the Farmville Historic District. Along the route, look for brick commercial buildings, former tobacco warehouses, and other reminders of the town’s past.
Longwood Center for the Visual Arts
Explore changing exhibitions and collections at Longwood University’s art museum in downtown Farmville. Admission is free; check the museum’s current hours and exhibition schedule.
History and character
Farmville’s history is visible both in its streetscape and in the nearby former school that is now the Moton Museum. On April 23, 1951, sixteen-year-old Barbara Johns led students at Moton High School in a walkout against overcrowded and inferior facilities. Their legal challenge, Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, became one of the cases decided with Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The museum preserves the school and interprets the local and national struggle over educational equality, including the later closure of Prince Edward County’s public schools from 1959 to 1964. [7]
Downtown offers a different window into Farmville’s past. The town’s official walking-tour route traces the historic district, including commercial buildings and former riverfront tobacco warehouses. The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts adds a contemporary cultural stop in the heart of this historic setting. [8]
Planning a trip
A practical day plan is to visit the Moton Museum, spend time downtown, and then walk or cycle a section of High Bridge Trail. The museum lists visitor hours as Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., and says visits may also be arranged by appointment; admission is free. Check directly before traveling, as schedules and access can change. [9]
High Bridge Trail State Park is open from sunrise to dusk, and its 32.2-mile route is suited to hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. The park’s official page posts current notices about construction and closures, which can affect connections between downtown and the bridge. Review the latest notice and access-point information before choosing a route. [10]
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts is at 129 North Main Street. The museum currently lists free admission and regular gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; confirm current hours and exhibitions before visiting. [11]
Explore nearby
High Bridge Trail State Park
Continue along the rail trail beyond Farmville for a longer walk or ride through the surrounding countryside.
Appomattox, Virginia
Explore another Central Virginia destination with important connections to the closing days of the Civil War.
Central Virginia Travel Guide
Plan a wider trip through the region’s towns, landscapes, and historic sites.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ Explore Farmville, Town of Farmville, Town of Farmville. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit Farmville, Visit Farmville, Farmville Area Tourism. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ High Bridge Trail State Park, Virginia State Parks, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit, Moton Museum, Robert Russa Moton Museum. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit, Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Longwood University. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Historic Downtown Walking Tour, Town of Farmville, Town of Farmville. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ The Moton Story, Moton Museum, Robert Russa Moton Museum. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Historic Downtown Walking Tour, Town of Farmville, Town of Farmville. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit, Moton Museum, Robert Russa Moton Museum. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ High Bridge Trail State Park, Virginia State Parks, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit, Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Longwood University. Retrieved 2026-10-22.