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The Booker T. Washington Visitor Center is located near the monument's main entrance, just off Virginia 122S. The visitor center provides maps, program schedules, and Junior Ranger booklets for children. Exhibits offer a detailed exploration of life on the Burroughs 1850s and Civil War-era tobacco plantation, where Booker T. Washington was born and spent his early childhood in enslavement until his emancipation in 1865 at age nine. The park film "Measure of a Man," which examines the life and legacy of Booker Taliaferro Washington, is available in the theater upon request. Park rangers are available to assist with questions.
Begin your tour of the Plantation Trail on the paved walkway located behind the visitor center. This 0.55-mile loop passes reconstructed buildings including a horse barn, kitchen cabin, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, and historic tobacco barn. Walking the Plantation Trail through the historic core evokes the atmosphere of an 1850s and Civil War-era tobacco plantation, reflecting Booker T. Washington’s childhood at the Burroughs plantation, where his journey from enslavement to emancipation began. Visitors are encouraged to explore the open buildings and surrounding grounds.
Begin your exploration of 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 formerly part of the Burroughs plantation. The open fields and the transition into forested areas show evidence of past cultivation. The trail passes through habitats supporting a diversity of birds, plants, wildflowers, and small animals within forest and stream ecosystems. The tour begins after you pass the tobacco barn. In about 0.2 miles, you will reach an intersection marking the start of the loop, which you can follow in either direction. Trail guides are available at the visitor center. |
Last updated: November 3, 2026