Learn About the Park

A man and three children walk along a reddish earthen path with a small cluster of rustic buildings in the distance.
Learn about Booker's early life and how this experience shaped his outlook as an adult and as a prominent figure in American history.

NPS/Linda Coldiron

Booker T. Washington National Monument stands on the site of the former Burroughs Plantation. In 1850, James and Elizabeth Burroughs brought their children and ten enslaved people to this 207-acre tobacco farm in southwestern Virginia. Though called a plantation, the property resembled the smaller farms typical of the region during Washington's early childhood. Compared with their Franklin County neighbors, the Burroughs were considered upper-middle class due to the labor performed by the ten enslaved individuals, who were central to the family's economic status. Unlike larger plantations, both the enslaved and the Burroughs family worked together to raise tobacco and subsistence crops.

Experience the monument to glimpse life on this working historical farm from the 1850s through the Civil War. Life was difficult, especially for Booker and his family, who were enslaved here until their emancipation in 1865. Reflect on slavery, the plantation system, and African American resilience.

Come visit the monument—where Washington first longed for an education, dreamed of freedom, and eventually took his "first breath of freedom."

 

Explore Monument Resources

  • A photograph of Booker T. Washington sitting in a chair with a folded newspaper in his lap.
    News

    Stay up-to-date with the latest news happening at the Monument through news releases and social media.

  • A sculpture depicting the moment of emancipation with the grounds of the Monument in the background.
    History and Culture

    Learn about the economy and culture of slavery on this mid-19th-century tobacco plantation.

  • Children walking through a wooded area along a wooded path.
    Educational Programs

    Bring your school or educational group for a curriculum-based SOLS program.

  • Two young children carrying wooden buckets down a hillside with a cabin in the background.
    Kids & Youth

    View activities and materials made especially for your visit!

  • Image of an illustration of a rustic cabin and fence.
    Management

    Discover how the National Park Service manages the Monument by exploring our compendium and foundation document.

  • A photograph of a bookstore featuring books, tee-shirts and other merchandise.
    Bookstore

    In the park visitor center bookstore, you can find titles on Booker T. Washington, African American history, Virginia and the Park Service.

Last updated: January 27, 2026

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

12130 Booker T. Washington Highway
Hardy, VA 24101

Phone:

540 682-0173

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