History Itinerary

Virginia is for Lovers if you love history, Farmville is the place for you. Did you know that Patrick Henry, General Robert E Lee and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. all walked the streets of Farmville! Follow Lee's Retreat in a self-guided driving tour. And be sure to visit Moton Museum, located in the former Moton High School, the student birthplace of our nation's Civil Rights movement. Also, learn about Farmville's past in a self-guided Downtown Walking Tour.

R. R. Moton Museum - visit the 1951 classroom that led to the student walkout that paved the way for integrated public education. A center for the study of civil rights in education, the museum is located at the intersection of Griffin Boulevard and South Main Street in Farmville

Lee's Retreat - follow the final days of the Civil War in a self-guided driving tour that begins in Petersburg and ends in Appomattox; historic markers, maps and interpretive radio broadcasts explain the details. Visit www.varetreat.com for map and tour details.

High Bridge Trail State Park - on the National Register of Historic Places and a Virginia Historic Landmark as the location of two Civil War Battles during Lee's Retreat just days before his surrender at Appomattox. You don't want to miss the crown of the 31-mile trail, the majestic High Bridge itself, 2422 feet long and rising 125 feet above the Appomattox River. It is the longest pedestrian bridge in Virginia and offers a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. The High Bridge Trail was also designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2013 and an excellent place to hike, bike, or ride a horse as you follow a portion of the rail line that connected Petersburg to Appomattox during the Civil War. The trail is accessible from downtown Farmville or the River Road parking area. For more information call 434-315-0457.

Historic Downtown Farmville Walking Tour - take a leisurely stroll through history in this self-guided walking tour of the Farmville Historic District. Be sure to view the map and narrative for 26 stops.

Hampden-Sydney College Atkinson Museum - take a revolutionary stroll on the campus of Hampden-Sydney College founded in 1775. Visit the Atkinson Museum's permanent exhibit to learn about H-SC's noted trustee, Patrick Henry, and its rich history from the birth of our nation to the present. Located 16 minutes from Farmville off U.S. 15 South, museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to noon, and 1 to 5 pm

Nearby

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park - take a walk through history in the original village of Appomattox Courthouse where Generals Robert E Lee and Ulysses S Grant negotiated the terms of surrender. The majority of the buildings are just as they were on April 9, 1865.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park - look out over rolling hills where the last major engagement of the Civil War took place on April 6, 1865. The Overton-Hillsman House, a field hospital during the battle, is open to visitors June through August and by request at other times. Contact the park at 434-315-0349 for a special tour.