Last updated: October 8, 2026
Thing to Do
Explore Exhibits on Booker T. Washington’s Early Life
NPS/Linda Coldiron
Booker T. Washington’s early life is explored through artifacts, photographs, and documents that illustrate the experience of growing up enslaved in the mid-1800s. Interactive displays offer experiential learning opportunities, placing visitors within the context of a small-scale 19th-century rural tobacco plantation. The exhibits emphasize the social, economic, and cultural realities of slavery, including the tobacco farm environment, the roles of enslaved individuals, and the impact of emancipation.
Emphasis on Enslavement and Daily Life
The exhibits emphasize life under enslavement, featuring displays about the tobacco farm, the labor performed by enslaved individuals, and the impact of emancipation on their lives.
Artifacts on Display
The exhibit features small but significant items, such as a tobacco knife and chewing tobacco, which illustrate the daily life and labor of enslaved individuals on the plantation.
Emphasis on Enslavement and Daily Life
The exhibits emphasize life under enslavement, featuring displays about the tobacco farm, the labor performed by enslaved individuals, and the impact of emancipation on their lives.
Artifacts on Display
The exhibit features small but significant items, such as a tobacco knife and chewing tobacco, which illustrate the daily life and labor of enslaved individuals on the plantation.
Details
Duration
15-60 Minutes
Activity
Museum Exhibits
Two large circular exhibits present Booker T. Washington’s early years through artifacts, photographs, and documents that illustrate the experience of growing up enslaved in the mid-1800s. Interactive displays provide opportunities to understand life on a small rural tobacco plantation during that period.
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
Booker T. Washington Visitor Center
The monument is located on VA 122 (Booker T. Washington Highway).
12130 Booker T. Washington Highway Hardy, VA 24101
12130 Booker T. Washington Highway Hardy, VA 24101
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Accessibility Information
- We have one wheelchair on site for public use.
- Parking: Several handicapped spaces are available along with a circle drop-off/pick-up in front of the visitor center.
- Routes: Paved from the parking area with a sidewalk to the visitor center; it is approximately 136 yards or 124 meters from the parking area to the visitor center.
- Visitor Center Entrance: Front and rear doors operate on a push-button door opener. Restrooms:
- The men's and women's restrooms are both wheelchair accessible. Benches: There are benches available throughout the visitor center and the outdoor area surrounding it.
- Picnic Area: Located next to the parking lot, the picnic area and has several wheelchair accessible picnic tables and charcoal grills.