Reviews of Booker T. Washington National Monument (Park)

Myron Schroeder

Nice park with lots of history. Very worthwhile. Nice kid friendly park with history and hiking.

Charles Browder

Awesome park staff. Me and my family loved the movie!!

Jeffrey Ledford

Great place, great park rangers, and it really makes you think.

Darlene Gorman

Rich in History, beautifyl setting, and an informative story about the life of Booker T. Washington.

Charles Nichols

Very educational got a little hot in the sun

India P.

This is a piece of well preserved history!! I see the other reviews, they must not be of African American descent because they spoke as if it's simply a "nice walk, or scout expedition ". Well it's much more!! This is the actual site of the plantation Booker T. Washington was born and raised on for a number of years. They have an annual Juneteenth celebration, that our church family plans to attend this week, and it will be our second visit, because we were so impressed the first visit!! It's worth your time if you are looking for history and culture! You can find a "park" anywhere!!

Jamal Robinson Sr

Amazing sights and historical facts. Brittany was very knowledgeable about Booker T Washington & family!

Sheila Price

Stumbled upon this place while taking a Sunday drive. A fun and educational place to take the family. Pack a picnic lunch!!

Teri Perry

History of a remarkable man's poor beginnings. Beautiful grounds.

Anthony Gardner

Not much to see but it is free to get in.

D G

Great experience! Actually extremely comforting environment to be in! I learned a lot about booker T Washington from the very knowledgeable staff! I cannot wait to make that trip back

Garfield Harris

Great knowledge great experience

mackenzi b

The visiting center and staff are friendly and knowledgeable, the animals are well taken care of, and the trail is gorgeous!

Diane Oakes

Very nice walk around the property, got to watch a historical movie about Booker T. Washington. Mrs Lane that works there is super nice and knowledgeable.... A great day!

Jan Phillips

Quiet and peaceful. Choose a cool day to visit. Lots of walking.

Brittany Webb

Best place in the world!

Bryan Farr

One of the great small National Park Sites that tells a great history of our country.

David Coon

Tranquil recreation of the farm where BTW spent his early years as a slave. Very helpful staff in visitors center. Will go back when I have more time to walk the trails.

Macy Jones

Went when i was in elementary school and absolutely loved it!!! Want to go back again

Rebecca Trapp

Great history hands on learning for children. Farm is a very good activity.

Lisa Murray

Nice video, very educational. Easy access

Ricky Crawford

If I could rate this place higher I would! This NP has a wonderful message, a great video to begin sharing the story, excellent often interactive displays and amazing well manicured grounds and an interpretative staff that is second to none. The grounds actually consist of live farm animals, active gardens and fields planted in crops of the day. All of this creates a real life setting that allows the visitor to step back in time and actually "feel" what it might have been like to be the slave Booker T Washington. Also, the very personable, very knowledgeable staff can answer any question one may have and best of all for me, share it with passion ...

Coleta Costen

Absolutely beautiful! Those are the only words that I have for this resort.

Michael Fogle

Very nice museum run by the VA Park Service. Walks you through the life and times of Booker T. from his childhood as a slave, freedom, his early education, and his leadership of Tuskegee University. Grounds around the museum are the actual Burrough's plantation that Booker worked along with his mother and two siblings. Burrough's house foundation still can be seen along with several duplicated buildings that were there at the time. Nice nature trail (about 1.5 miles), barn, and animals including horses, sheep, hog, ducks, turkeys, and chickens. Volunteer staff very friendly and very knowledgable.

Jennifer Taylor

Nice walking trail staff was friendly

Ro Quintal

Nice place for a walk and to take kids to see the animals.

Carolyn Briggs

The birth place of Booker T Washington is an interesting place if you are in the Smith Mountain Lake area. It is a wonderful example of how a small plantation operated and is a glimpse into the life of a slave. It is a working farm- the farm was small and Booker T was young. He lived here until he was freed. A great history lesson for a cloudy day. Admission is donation only.

Beatrice Nelson

Well done interpretation

Carla Holuby

Awesome history. Very nice and helpful staff.

Denise Asbury

Enjoy the monument. History can be very eye-opening though

Jane Schafer

Love taking my grandkids to see the animals and go for a nature hike, as well as beginning to learn of our history and culture.

Steven Meeks

Important message from the past that should be examined by today's youth.

Patricia Welch

Disappointing

Mark Wheeler

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the site. They had an informative film and small learning center in the visitor's center. There is a lot of walking involved with some slightly steep parts of the path. Walking around the plantation would be difficult for some elders who need a cane or walker and a wheelchair would be difficult to maneuver. After leaving the visitor's center I ambled down the path to the slave cabin which was also the kitchen for the plantation. The kitchen garden was full of both culinary and medicinal plants. Several outbuildings included a smokehouse, blacksmith's shed, tobacco barn, horse barn, corn crib, and chicken coop. There's a nice 1.5 mile walking trail there as well. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in Civil War era history.

Ted Baumen

Well worth the stop. Professional and pleasant staff, and very helpful. Well maintained site and very informative trails.

dawn cormier

Really wonderful walking trails

Marco Muñoz

Great historical perspective.

John H

Great learning experience. Many would learn a great deal by visiting. Historically well maintained.

Monika van Hoeve

A real unexpected gem. Exellent exhibition. Great outdoor museum. Beautiful walking trail. Loved the livestock! And next day I made the front page of newspaper...

N Kelley Barrows-jipson

It

Diane Calloway

Great place for walking through history. The video was age appropriate even though the slavery is a brutal topic. We had children ranging from 3 to 10 and they all enjoyed the interactive displays and walking through the outdoor spaces. A very well maintained and educational monument

Morti883

Excellent staff and very informative! I can't wait to get my nieces involved in the junior ranger activities!

Sherri Freels

Excellent! Inspirational! Thank you, NPS!!

Benjamin Kramer

An educational look back in time.

Lumpy

Interesting and inspiring. Educational setting with good representation of farmstead/small plantation including garden and animals. Good film in visitor center. Friendly helpful staff. Allow one hour or more.

Kelly Walter

Historically relevant, beautiful property. A must when you're in the area.

Theodore Smith

Very interesting National Park. I learned a lot. The staff is wonderful.

Howard Nichols

This is a great place to visit. It shows how slaves lived many years ago. This place has been kept up for people to visit and enjoy seeing where Booker T. Washington lived as a young boy.

Captain

Surrounded by nature yet near enough to town that food is easily accessible, this monument is an ideal location for field trips, hiking, and photography. With it's live animals, 18th century buildings, and forested path along an old creek, which provide an ambiance that is indisputably relaxing. It's also a fantastic place to learn some History as well.

A Holdgreve

Amazing place to go for a nice calming walk. The water and the forest are absolutely stunning and calming.

Tara Dunegan

Great historical park. A nice trail to walk while you learn. You can even Chase the ducks, even though I don't recommend it lol

Richard Millar

Outstanding step back in time for both all Americans.

Sherry Slebodnick

Got there to late as it was 4:45 pm and they closed at 5 pm but they were very apologetic we intend to try again next year

Juanita Woodson

Good experience

Asa Harmon

Really fun place and very interesting... Should have a lot more people visit it than it does now

Chad Mays

A local park full of history. If you haven't been, I highly suggest going, if for nothing other than to learn of Virginia's slave-holding past.

G-man D-man

Good place to go hiking near Smith Mountain Lake

Thomas J. Berna

Informative - very well done. Good video in Visitor Center and pleasant hiking trails.

Jean Senga

Very educational and inspirational. A must in education of our young minds.

Barry Walls

Great place, friendly staff. Historic!

GABRIEL CRAFT

Excellent site not to be missed!

Lori Bross

Very informative for all ages. Visitors' Center shows movie and has an educational exhibit. Path to outdoor plantation buildings is not a long walk but slopes/hills might be a challenge for some.

Scott Moorhead

Worth the trip

Gray Corbett

Knew little of BTW until visiting this site. Vey informative movie watched begore walking down to log cabins.

Renée Wooldridge

There is so much you can learn and experience. We plan on going again to take our grandson.

Tammy Wilson

Went to the Christmas event they had there today Dec 1, 2018! Very interesting & very nice people ! We enjoyed it !

CO NELSON

AWESOME!!!!

Bridget Fain

Great place to visit for some history and nice walking trail. See what it was like in Booker t Washington was alive and walk the Jack-o-lantern trail which is peaceful and easy.its free to. They have picnic tables and public restrooms and a service center with friendly staff to answer your questions. Also there is a map available to show you where everything is

Terry Power

Pretty cool area that is kept very clean. Don't miss the museum, you'll learn things you'd never have known about Booker T. Washington and just wander a little. Lovely park, plenty of places to explore or gather with friends and family. Great for a picnic day! Who doesn't like the woods?

Donna Criswell

Great National Monument & well-worth the visit! Short film & walks, plus a fun Junior Ranger program. Brittany was the ranger on duty when we visited the morning of July 4th - there could be NO BETTER ranger found anywhere in the NP system. So energetic & knowledgeable. She made our visit even better - we hope that some day she is a superintendent at a national park site. Go Brittany!

Brian Brindle

Love this park. Animals, trails, picnicking and a lot of interesting history.

TK Tornado

Another cant miss historic site.

Matthew Bonacci

Great hidden treasure. Wish I visited sooner.

Alicia Smith

Seeing the reconstructed cabin and the setup of the farm, the humble beginnings of such am impressive man, truly makes history come alive. The short film is spectacular and knowledge of the staff and volunteers is amazing!

Don Crass

Great spot for pictures and awesome history. Make sure to check out Turkulese the giant turkey!

Joel Slutzki

Nice museum worth a visit

harry barrett

Small museum but interesting

Clanford Johnson

Great Memorial for a great American

Bonnie Thompson

Very nice park with a beautiful maintained replica of farms past. Very informative visitors center covering this great man's life. Hiking trails are dog friendly.

Jacki Moss

Very informative and sad at the same time

Deborah Hensel M.S.E.

Lovely and educational,

Candi Ahlbrandt

I love the museum and the walking trails in the animals. They keep the grounds very nice and clean.

Janida Bonham

Great place to visit for history. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Living history. Enjoyed seeing live animals on the farm. Easy trai to hike

Millie Gonzalez

One of the greatest places to know about history!

Kat Valentine

It was fun!

Leon Saunders

Oh I love the place it's such a great thing to go there and visit

H OSullivan

Educational, really enjoyed our visit.

Sharon Curtis

I visited last weekend while I was in Smith Mountain Lake. The volunteers/workers were very knowledgeable regarding the history on Booker T. Washington, as well as the visitor center contained a short film on him and there were interactive items in a smaller section that you could do while reading the history. There were replicas outside regarding what the buildings may have looked like back then. They had a big marker by the visitor center and pamphlets outlining what each building was, but having markers outside of each one explaining the history of it would've been nice. Otherwise, I enjoyed my visit here and would recommend it.

Robert E. Blackstock

Very enjoyable and informative

Karl Leibensperger

This is a much better setup for kids as it was a bit simplistic and the buildings are recreated instead of original. Signage drew some conclusions that appear political and would be better off left out. It's hard not to appreciate the intelect and drive if a man like Booker T Washington though, so worth a stop.

Ben Spicer

Very fun place. Love their events

Steven Abrell

Very informative and well kept too

JJ Novacek

Decent national park site, friendly staff.

Glenn Jordan

Very friendly and knowledgeable Park Service guy there. Check out the turkey !

ToNita Lowery

Very beautiful landscape, friendly staff, and quaint souvenier shop as you walk in. The museum was also informational. The mini movie about his life was moving and inspirational. But alas, it has changed over the years. There wasn't much livestock and no volunteers making soaps, blacksmithing etc. However, this place holds great historical significance and should be visited, as Booker T. has made many contributions to the free world. Specifically for the betterment of African-Americans.

David Hogue

Need more of these places to educate the youth about their ancestors.

Christina Brickey

I el I do the emergency washing I live by the road from there is really cool

Ryan Guskiewicz

Great historical replication. Beautiful views and great quick hike with the family. Staff are helpful and courteous.

Laura Cook

Great place to learn and somethings hands on!

bill sylvis

Knowledgeable staff, nice park

Barry Harrison

Nice place to see history.

Connie Fox

Very interesting and educational place for the whole family. Beautiful indoor museum as well as outdoor grounds to tour. Very informative and pleasant Park Ranger. Will go back.

James Wrape

Very nice and have reenactments on schedule

Dianne Houston-Crockett

The exhibits were great.howere I wish more information about his work with other civil rights leaders of his day was covered.

Victor Napolillo

Great place for a walk, decent trail.

Laura Edgington

Interesting. We learned a lot about him.

Gail Ketchum

Great historical sight

paula Clay

I'm a volunteer and member of the Friends group. If you're looking for authentic, historic, quiet natural beauty, this Is the place. The actual birthplace of Booker T Washington. Free admission. Short intro movie, self tour, exhibit, farm animals, walking trails, heritage garden, historic structures, lively stream and creek, etc. Friendly staff, picnic area for lunch. Come. Enjoy.

Adam Russell

Great place to learn the story of an amazing man.

Wayne Barr

Everyone should visit this site!

Caroline Boughton

Everyone is super friendly. Juneteenth and all their special events shouldn't be missed! The walk along the creek is peaceful but not so secluded that you have to worry about getting lost... perfect for city folk.

Nelson Whipple

After recently reading "Up From Slavery", I was excited to learn of this monument and made time to visit it. I found the experience of walking around the plantation to be contemplative and relaxing, though stimulating at the same time. At the Visitor Center, the ranger gave a good historical overview of the plantation, but we also had a great conversation about the legacy of the oft-misunderstood Booker T. Washington. I wish I had more time there to sit on a bench and ruminate about the peacefulness of the environment, its disturbing past, and the impact on young Booker. Several structures remain on the plantation, although the slave quarters and main house are gone. It's a pleasant and easy walk around the grounds, focused on the experience rather than the details. Sites are labeled, but there is not a lot of text to read (though there is plenty of information at the Visitor Center). You will see pigs in the pig pen, ducks in the duck lot, a horse by the horse barn, etc. The Visitor Center and rangers helped to provide the context and answered questions. As a bonus, the gift shop had a nice selection of commemorative items. Overall, it was a great experience that enriched the intellectual understanding I had gained from books.

marsha melkonian

Great place to learn about history and about early life of Booker T Washington

Vanessa Yancey

Love the Juneteenth celebration!

Pamela Chambers

This is somewhere everyone should visit. I admire this man so much. He moved from being born into slavery to advising a president and more. I am in awe of his accomplishments, perseverance, determination and success. A true hero that should be honored!!

Beep Beep

We came across this place while we were out on a drive and were really happy we did! Very awesome place to look around, there's so much history.

Denise Valerie

Very nice to see the history of this important man. Grounds are easily accessible and has live animals on the farm.

SUSAN ONDRASEK

Really interesting place to go. It was very informative, and a really nice walk.

Greg Frith

Booker T. is a great place to observe history and nature as it is and was. Friendly staff, great facilities, and plethora of information and activities!

Nikki Grimes

Very interesting. Recommend a visit.

Marco Alcivar Perez

This is a great landmark to visit. It is very humbling and it's incredible to see how far America has come as a society, and how much there is yet to do. Booker T. Washington dreamt of a future where both races would be able to work together with a focus on education. I highly recommend taking the time to come here to be in the shoes of one of the most prominent and influential figures in the civil war era.

Travis Coad

Very informative of our past and pertinent to our future.

Shane Richardson

Great learning about Booker t Washington born and freed there

John Gonzalez

The history of this place was so intriguing.

Lisa Cantrell

Yet another federal site that is done well. The short 8 minute film is very much like BTW's book that many of us read in high school-Up From Slavery the grounds replicate the farm he was born and raised on with lots of animals so the kids can have fun and learn too.

Greg Escoffier

This wonderful national monument has beautiful grounds, and is so educational. Here you can travel back in time, and learn about how an amazing man overcame incredible obstacles, followed his dream, and gave others the same chance he did. Walk through the amazing Forrest trail, and walk through the fields, to get a gylmse into what life was like 150 years ago. Don't forget to view the museum, and watch the movie to learn about Booker T. Washington's amazing life. And, of course, view all of the animals that they keep, no petting allowed though.

Tim O'Sullivan

As a new American, I enjoy learning about American history both good and bad. There is a lot to learn here, and the facility is very well maintained and informative. The museum and video are very educational and I learnt a lot whilst I was here. It really shows what a great man Booker T. Washington was. As well as the museum, it's a great place to walk, hike and immerse yourself in history. They have farm animals and horses on site and hiking trails if that is your thing. It must be said the people at this monument are very helpful and friendly and happy to answer any questions you have. Highly recommended if you are in the area.

Amanda Moore

The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I felt welcomed and excited to explore the whole park!

Sage Goddess

First time going too Booker T Washington home place. Very interesting, it's free and a nice place to take the kiddos and learn about American history. I really enjoyed this outing today.

Tonja M

Very educational experience

Fabrizio Pettoello

Bella ricostruzione di una piantagione di tabacco

Angela Bridge

A MUST SEE! With interactive exihbits, a great movie, preserved historical site and farm with real animals, and a fantastic, knowlegable staff, people of all ages will have an awesome time and learn something about history into the bargain.

Craig Martin

Site is very well maintained, and the staff are very kind and informative. I only wish more of the site was about Washington, although the visit was very much worth the stop. Don't forget to get your parks passport stamped here!

Andrea Reynolds

Always love to visit the monument. Enjoyed the singing ingredients today.

Uwe Britfeld

Very informational in a beautiful setting. It rained while we were there but this is definitely something I would recommend. And, it's free.

Ruth Ann Kennedy

Excellent example of a period farm

Chip Donahue

This is a must see stop each summer. See the hogs, horses, ducks, chicken and turkey. Well marked path along the Jack-o'-Lantern Trail. Lovely spot for picnics.

Sean B.

What an amazing man! I had just finished reading his autobiography and while traveling found that I was on a highway named after him and I saw the sign for his monument for where he was born and freed. What a nice monument with historical displays, short film, trails and historical sights. All free. What a great gift to our nation his life was and is, and this monument is worth a visit of your are ever in Virginia.