Booker T. Washington National Monument: An Insider’s Guide (2026)

Located just minutes from Westlake Corner, this 239-acre site preserves the birthplace and early life of one of the most influential African American leaders in U.S. history.

Born into slavery in 1856 on the farm of James Burroughs, Booker T. Washington rose to become an educator, author and adviser, eventually serving as the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School.

Today, the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Franklin County near Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, honors both his legacy and the broader story of life on a 19th-century tobacco farm.

Begin your visit at the Visitor Center, where exhibits and the short film “Measure of a Man” help orient you to Washington’s life and legacy. A small sales area offers books and items focused on African American history, and park rangers and volunteers are available to answer questions and help you make the most of your visit before heading outside to explore the reconstructed farmstead.

After exploring the Visitor Center, step outside to experience the landscape that shaped Booker T. Washington’s early life. The park brings this history to life through its garden and farm areas, offering a closer look at daily life on a 19th-century tobacco farm.

A heritage garden, created and maintained by the Franklin County Master Gardeners, reflects the long tradition of growing food on the property. Volunteers cultivate seasonal vegetables and fruits using heritage varieties and traditional methods, providing a glimpse into how crops were raised during Washington’s childhood.

Tabitha Collison

Nearby, the farm area adds another layer to the experience. A horse barn, modeled after historic examples from the region, demonstrates the essential role animals played in daily farm life.

Visitors can often spot Iceman, a traditional Morgan horse who calls the park home. During this period, farms raised hogs for salt meat, cattle for milk and beef and, in some cases, sheep for wool and mutton.

From the farmstead, visitors can continue exploring on foot along the park’s trail system. The Plantation Trail is a nearly level quarter-mile loop through the historic core, passing reconstructed 19th-century farm buildings similar to those that stood on the Burroughs Plantation when Booker T. Washington lived here as a child.

Visitors are invited to step inside many of the open structures and learn about daily life on the farm, including the tobacco barn, where large quantities of tobacco were produced in the Piedmont region during the 1800s. The path returns to the main grounds along a paved walkway bordered by rolling hills.

For a longer outing, the Jack-O-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail offers a scenic 1.5-mile route through fields and wooded areas, with sections that wind alongside a babbling brook. A trail guide available at the Visitor Center highlights native plants, trees and wildlife. In late spring and early summer, keep an eye out for the striking pink lady’s slipper, a native orchid that blooms along the trail.

Throughout the year, the park offers junior ranger programs, living history demonstrations and special events that bring the site’s stories to life.

Seasonal programs often include guided walks, educational talks and hands-on activities that highlight both Booker T. Washington’s legacy and daily life on the farm.

The Freedom Walk is an annual event inspired by Booker T. Washington’s 500-mile trek in 1872 to enroll at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in eastern Virginia. Participants log miles at the park or wherever they live, collecting pledges to support a scholarship fund for qualifying seniors at Franklin County High School.

Consider connecting with the Friends of Booker T. Washington National Monument, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting the park through educational programs, preservation efforts and special events. Their work helps enhance the visitor experience and ensures this important historic site continues to be preserved for future generations.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT
12130 Booker T. Washington Hwy.
Hardy, VA 24101

Website: nps.gov/bowa
Phone number: 540-297-6066

Grounds: Daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Visitor Center: Wed.–Sun., 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

How much does Booker T. Washington Museum cost?

Booker T. Washington National Monument is free with donations accepted.

Is Booker T. Washington’s home a national park?

Booker T. Washington’s home is not a national park, but it is part of the National Park Service. Booker T. Washington National Monument is a national monument, a designation used to protect places of historic, cultural or natural significance.

While there is no camping or lodging at Booker T. Washington National Monument, a number of accommodations located nearby. Use this interactive map to easily search for and compare Smith Mountain Lake house rentals, cabins, cottages, condos and hotels.