Exploring Lexington, Virginia - A Weekend Getaway Through History and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
by a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads – Art & Other Odd Adventures
Dear Henry,
I took a little road trip up I-81 to Lexington, Virginia. Let me tell you all about it.
Lexington, Virginia, is a small town sixty miles northeast of Roanoke and also near the Great Wagon Road. The Monacan people originally inhabited the area, but by the mid-1700s, Euro-American settlers began to move into it.
The town was officially established by the Virginia Assembly in 1775 and named after the Battle of Lexington, one of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it serves as the gateway to some of the area's most notable natural features, including Horse Mountain, Goshen Pass, and
Natural Bridge. This unique geological feature was once a rustic resort frequented by Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers.
Lexington became the county seat of Rockbridge County in 1777.
Tragedy struck the town in 1796 after a fire, which began at the livery, decimated nearly every log and frame building. The city was subsequently rebuilt with the brick structures you see today.
"Sotherners live uneasily at the nexus between myth and reality, watching the mishmash amalgam of sorrow, humility, honor, graciousness, and renegade defiance play out against a backdrop of profligate physical beauty."
-Sally Mann
The streets aren't original, either. The mountains of Virginia have steep hills, and the roads, initially graded dirt and clay, were generally impassible during the winter months. In 1852, the city decided to lower the streets by around 8 to 10 feet and pave them. Many of the area's walk-out basements became the new ground floors of many buildings, and some places required new porches and stairwells to reach their front doors. You can still see, in places, the remnants of old doorways hanging several feet above the walks.
Lexington, Virginia, is also home to two universities: One, Washington and Lee University, is the 9th-oldest college in the country. It began in 1749 under the name Augusta Academy. That college had moved to Lexington several years before, settling there in 1782. In 1796, George Washington gifted the college stock from the James River Canal Company, providing a much-needed financial boost. The college changed its name to Washington after the gift. After the US Civil War, former Confederate General Robert E. Lee became the school's president, and his work laid the foundation for the college's successful curriculum today.
The other school is the Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839. It is the oldest state-supported academy in the US. I visited VMI and will tell you all about it in another letter.
By the way, if you see the VMI, you will want to tour the Jackson House Museum. I saw that, too, and I'll tell you about it next time.
"Amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are remarkable expressions of life."
- Anthony Harkins
Lexington is a great spot to learn about the area's involvement in US Civil War history. General Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson made their homes here, and both are buried in the city's cemetery. Several places throughout the town offer insights into its history, and the visitor's center provides a great map and brochure to guide you. I highly recommend picking one up.
The city is also a great place to stay if you enjoy the outdoors in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is close to the trails, fishing, and kayaking of Goshen Pass, Horse Mountain, and Natural Bridge. There are winery tours nearby and top-notch dining in the city.
I enjoyed my time in Lexington and recommend it as a perfect weekend getaway.
xoxo a.d. elliott
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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.
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