Park Hours (Today)
9:00AM - 5:00PM
Visitor Center: 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Miza AI
Plan your Booker T. Washington trip
About the Park
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.
Ready to explore Booker T. Washington National Monument?
Take the stress out of planning. Our AI will automatically sequence your stops, find the best hotels, and optimize your driving time in seconds.
What to See & Do
Start at the Booker T. Washington Visitor Center
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 enslavement to his freedom at age nine. You can also watch the 13-minute film “Measure of a Man” about life on a Virginia plantation in the mid-1800s.
Explore Exhibits on Booker T. Washington’s Early Life
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 and during the American Civil War, on James Burroughs' 207-acre tobacco plantation.
Ring the Bell: A Symbolic Marker of Freedom
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 individuals rang the bell, Booker T. Washington National Monument recognizes it as a symbolic marker of freedom for the Washington family and other enslaved individuals.
Bring Your Dog for a Walk to Booker T. Washington NM
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 adhere to the six-foot leash rule at all times and clean up after your dog to ensure responsible park use.
Take a Tour of the Historic Core on the Plantation Trail
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, passing structures including a horse barn, kitchen cabin, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, and a historic tobacco barn accessible to visitors along the trail.
Take a hike on the Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail
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 the loop, which you can follow in either direction. Trail guides are available at the visitor center.
Visitor Centers
Visitor Center
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 540-682-0173 to find out if the park is open or closed during inclement weather.
Parking & Access
Getting Here
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.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
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.
Park Amenities
Operating Hours
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.
- Monday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Friday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Photos
Back side of kitchen cabin and smokehouse in snow with blue sky and trees
Four people dressed as enslaved people in front of the fireplace in cabin
Reconstructed kitchen cabin where Booker T. Washington was born
Two re-enactors portraying enslaved people sitting in front of fire inside kitchen cabin
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Build your Booker T. Washington itinerary
Tell Miza your dates, pace, and interests—get a day-by-day plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
Searching for the best hotel deals near Booker T. Washington National Monument...
Planning Booker T. Washington National Monument
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.