Take Our Historic Walking Tour
Wytheville’s Historic Walking Tour offers a captivating journey through the town’s past, showcasing its well-preserved architecture, landmarks, and stories that span centuries. As you walk through downtown, you’ll encounter historic sites that reveal the town’s role in shaping Virginia’s history.
history
The tour features a variety of sites that tell the story of Wytheville’s early days, from its founding in the late 18th century to its role in the Civil War and beyond. As you walk through the streets, you’ll discover preserved buildings, such as the Haller Gibboney Rock House, home to Wytheville’s first resident physician, and the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum, honoring the First Lady’s roots in the town. The tour highlights the diverse history of Wytheville, offering a unique opportunity to experience the charm and character of this historic community.
Civil War Trails
Beginning in the mid-1990’s, the Virginia Civil War Trails project is an effort by citizens,
organizations, and local governments, to enhance understanding of Virginia’s Civil War
experience by interpreting and linking significant sites relating to the Civil War throughout the
Commonwealth. More than 250 sites are currently linked.
Wythe County now has five sites on this trail marking the route of “Toland’s Raid.”
Read More About Each Trail Below
MKR# 1 Top of Walker Mt.
Stand where Union troops first glimpsed the valley before the Battle of Wytheville. Learn about their march, skirmishes, and strategic orders that led them deeper into Virginia in July 1863
MKR# 2 Foot of Walker Mt.
Discover the site of the first skirmish before Wytheville, where Confederate forces struck Toland’s Union army at the foot of Walker Mountain, reclaiming prisoners and altering the march’s momentum.
MKR# 3 State Route 680
Follow Colonel Toland’s tactical moves near present-day Rural Retreat as Union forces attempted to destroy crucial railroad tracks but faced unexpected Confederate defenses.
MKR# 4 St. Johns
Uncover the resting place of Union soldiers killed during the Battle of Wytheville. This marker tells the story of those buried at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery and the battle’s heavy toll.
MKR# 5 Battle in Wytheville
Relive the dramatic clash in Wytheville where Union forces charged into fierce resistance, and Colonel Toland met his fate. Learn how the battle unfolded and left lasting scars on the town.
itinerary