National Monument

Booker T. Washington National Monument

Mid-Atlantic

About Booker T. Washington

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.

Region: Mid-Atlantic
State: Virginia
Designation: National Monument
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Booker T. Washington.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Park Grounds

Mon: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Tue: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Wed: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Thu: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Fri: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Sat: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Sun: 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.

Weather and when to go

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

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.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA 24101
Phone: (540) 682-0173
Email: bowa_rangers_3@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/bowa

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Booker T. Washington

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Booker T. Washington

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Start at the Booker T. Washington Visitor Center

Museum Exhibits · about 30 min

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 you…
Explore Exhibits on Booker T. Washington’s Early Life

Museum Exhibits · about 30 min

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 displ…
Ring the Bell: A Symbolic Marker of Freedom

Cultural Demonstrations · about 15 min

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 Burroug…
Bring Your Dog for a Walk to Booker T. Washington NM

Hiking · about 40 min

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…
Take a Tour of the Historic Core on the Plantation Trail

Hiking · about 40 min

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.…
Take a hike on the Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail

Hiking · about 1 hour

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 Burroug…
Enjoy a Picnic at Booker T. Washington National Monument

Picnicking · about 1 hour

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 re…