Come Stay, Explore, and Play in Lexington and Beautiful Rockbridge County

Lexington, Virginia, and the surrounding County of Rockbridge, may be just what you're looking for to spend a day, a weekend, or a weekís stay. There's history, beautiful mountains and valleys, hiking, fishing, hunting and camping, there is the renowned Virginia Horse Center, watch a full-dress parade at Virginia Military Institute, take in a concert during the summer at Lime Kiln Theater, see the spectacular Natural Bridge, walk the downtowns of Lexington and Buena Vista and sample our eclectic mix of shops, galleries and restaurants, take a drive around our scenic rural countryside or just relax and unwind with a good book.

Getting Here

The Rockbridge area is easy to get to from all directions. Interstates 81 and 64 cross at Lexington, providing excellent access. Lexington is three hours drive southwest of Washington, DC via Interstates 66 and 81, and two hours drive west of Richmond, VA on I-64. Visitors can also fly into Roanoke Regional Airport, 50 miles south of Lexington.

Historical Sites and People

George Washington saved the struggling Liberty Hall Academy when he gave $20,000 worth of stock to the school. The school was saved and soon changed its name to Washington College. Later, following the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee came to Lexington to serve as president of the college. Under his leadership, the college prospered, and following Lee's death, the trustees renamed the college Washington and Lee University. Lee and his family are buried in the Lee Chapel, on the campus of the university. The museum in the chapel contains many fascinating artifacts from the Lee and Washington families.

Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, one of the Confederacy's most famous, and successful leaders, lived in Lexington in the 1850s while he was a professor at Virginia Military Institute. The only home he ever owned is on East Washington Street in Lexington and is open to the public as a museum.

The Virginia Military Institute has its share of history. The VMI Museum displays the raincoat that Jackson was wearing when he was shot. Jackson"s horse, Little Sorrel. Preserved through taxidermy, is also on view at the museum. While at the museum don't miss seeing the medals, including several Congressional Medals of Honor, and other memorabilia of famous VMI alumni such as Gen. George S. Patton and Adm. Richard E. Byrd.

Possibly the most outstanding, but less known, graduate of VMI is George C. Marshall. Marshall's papers and a museum dedicated to him are housed in the George C. Marshall Library and Museum, on the VMI post. Marshall is regarded as the "architect of allied victory" during World War II when he was U.S. Army Chief of Staff. He later served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan which pulled Western Europe up from the ashes following the war.

Other famous people with connections to the Rockbridge area are Matthew Fontaine Maury, the "Pathfinder of the Seas"; Sam Houston, the first president of Texas; and Thomas Jefferson, who owned the Natural Bridge. Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the reaping machine is credited with opening the west to commercial agriculture and beginning the development of mechanized farming. More recently, Sgt. Matt Eversmann, the hero of the book and film "Black Hawk Down" grew up in Rockbridge County.

There are a variety of resources for travelers planning a trip to the Lexington/Rockbridge area, and for those already here looking for things to do and see.

If you’re still in the planning stage, this site has information on hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, get-away cottages, and camping and RV options. You’ll find guides to dining, shopping, historic sites, museums, outdoor activities, vineyards and wineries and lots more to help you with your plans. You’ll also find suggested hikes in the area with maps, articles on local history, articles on Lime Kiln Theater’s season of concerts and plays, information on music festivals and art shows, the Virginia Horse Center, information about the areas colleges and universities, and much, much more.

For information about travel in Virginia, go to http://www.virginia.org, the official Virginia state travel website. It contains a wealth of information about all there is to do in this fascinating state.

Once in the Lexington area, the Lexington Visitor Center, at 106 W. Washington Street is an excellent place to begin your visit. The Visitor Center has brochures, maps, information on area history, attractions, lodging, restaurants, events walking tours and recreation. Travel counselors at the Visitor Center are also great sources of information and directions if you need them. The Center provides handicapped accessible restrooms, nearby picnic tables and parking.

The Lexington Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, September through May, and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. June through August. The Center is closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For more information, phone (540) 463-3777 or visit the Center’s website at http://www.lexingtonvirginia.com.

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