National Monument

Booker T. Washington National Monument

Booker T. Washington National Monument is a National Monument in Virginia. The NPS currently lists 0 active alerts, 0 campgrounds and 1 visitor center, and no entrance fee.

Virginia National Monument No entrance fee

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT · NPS Data API

Tobacco field being plowed by man with two draft horses — Tobacco, the cash crop · Photo: NPS Photo/ VIP Bill Tucker (via nps.gov)

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.”

— National Park Service, nps.gov/bowa

Active alerts

Closures

Campgrounds

Visitor centers

Current alerts and closures

The NPS listed no active alerts for this park in the Oct 28, 2026 snapshot. Conditions can change; check current conditions on nps.gov before you go.

Entrance fees and passes

This site has no entrance fee, according to NPS fee data.

Things to do

A group of visitors reading at an exhibit — Photo: NPS/Linda Coldiron

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.

15-60 Minutes Year-round

Museum Exhibits

A park ranger stands beside a wooden pole and demonstrates to a small child how to ring the bell. — Photo: NPS/Linda Coldiron

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.

5-10 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Cultural Demonstrations

Jack-O-Lantern Branch Creek — Photo: NPS

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.

45-90 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Hiking

See all 7 things to do in Booker T. Washington →

Activities the NPS lists for Booker T. Washington.

Arts and CultureCraft DemonstrationsCultural DemonstrationsLive MusicFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHikingLiving HistoryReenactmentsJunior Ranger ProgramPark FilmMuseum Exhibits

Operating hours

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.

Park Grounds
Day	Hours
Monday	9:00AM - 5:00PM
Tuesday	9:00AM - 5:00PM
Wednesday	9:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday	9:00AM - 5:00PM
Friday	9:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday	9:00AM - 5:00PM
Sunday	9:00AM - 5:00PM

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

Contact and directions

Phone: 5406820173
Email: [email protected]
Address: 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA 24101
Coordinates: 37.1152, -79.7319· View on OpenStreetMap

Official park page on nps.gov Directions

Visitor centers

Visitor center	Standard hours	Phone	Passport stamp
Visitor Center	Mon Closed · Tue Closed · Wed 10:00AM - 4:00PM · Thu 10:00AM - 4:00PM · Fri 10:00AM - 4:00PM · Sat 10:00AM - 4:00PM · Sun 10:00AM - 4:00PM	540-682-0173	Yes

Campgrounds

No NPS campgrounds are listed for this site. Nearby national forests or state parks may offer camping.

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More parks in Virginia

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial Assateague Island National Seashore Blue Ridge Parkway Cape Henry Memorial Part of Colonial National Historical Park Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park Chesapeake Bay Civil War Defenses of Washington Colonial National Historical Park Cumberland Gap National Historical Park All in Virginia

Nearest other NPS sites

Sources

Park details, alerts, fees and passes, visitor centers and campgrounds: National Park Service Data API, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Official park page: https://www.nps.gov/bowa/index.htm
Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.