Exploring Central Virginia’s History: A Weekend in Appomattox, Lynchburg, and Poplar Forest - Spotlight on Lynchburg
A hike along Lynchburg’s Riverwalk Trail winds along the James and is a great way to spend time outside.
UPDATED: 2/5/2023
This is the first post in a three-part series. Click here to read part 2, which is about Appomattox and click here for the third installment, focused on Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.
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Virginia fills the history books with its significant role after the arrival of early European settlers, who established their home in Jamestown, Virginia. Virginia is also the birthplace of more US presidents than any other state (8 in case you were wondering), houses many a president’s personal home (see our posts on Mount Vernon, Monticello, Montpelier) partook in many major battles of the Revolutionary War and Civil War (see our post on Antietam Battlefield), was home to Lewis and Clark, who headed out to explore the western part of the continent (which of course had already been long known by the native populations).
Virginia is also the state where we have both resided since the mid 1990s, when our families independently relocated from various parts of California (Central California in Dustin’s case and Southern California in mine) to Charlottesville, Virginia.
Bright paint adds flair to this Victorian porch post.
Walk along the historic brick-lined streets in old downtown Lynchburg.
Ferns and thistles in the bright afternoon sun make for an interesting photo.
In April 2012, my mother and I booked a long-weekend trip to explore some new parts of the state. We stayed in Lynchburg as a central point, explored that city as well as made short trips to both Poplar Forest (Thomas Jefferson’s home, a retreat from Monticello) and Appomattox, a small town most famous as the site where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, officially concluding the American Civil War.
Here are some of our favorite activities from the trip. If you like history and wandering outside, this is a great weekend trip! There is plenty more to do in the area for those looking to spend more time; in that case, we have to put in a plug for our amazing city of Roanoke, Virginia, a mere 75 minutes from Lynchburg, which offers endless outdoor activities, museums, and the like.
Spending the afternoon along the Lynchburg Riverwalk.
Urban blight yearning for a bulldozer or a historic district waiting to be revitalized? It all depends on the eye of the beholder.
Lynchburg, Virginia: An Overview and Activities
an overview of Lynchburg, virginia
We selected Lynchburg as the most central spot for this trip and so the best place to stay overnight. As a moderately sized city (about 76,000 in 2011), Lynchburg has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and the types of attractions that make it a good base to explore Virginia’s center.
Lynchburg is about 2 hours west of Richmond, Virginia’s state capital, about 3 and a half hours south of Washington, DC, and about 3 hours and 20 minutes north of Charlotte, North Carolina. Lynchburg is home to a regional airport, which serves predominantly as a connection to Charlotte’s international airport, and it is also on the Amtrak train line, providing access along the northeast and into the south. I’ve taken the route from Lynchburg to Washington, DC, many times.
Lynchburg is a hilly city, perched above the banks of the James River, which cuts across Virginia from west to east, connecting to the ocean in the Hampton Roads area. The city is home to many late 19th and early 20th century buildings, including stately Victorian homes and former brick behemoths along the riverfront that were once used for industry and are more often home to restaurants, museums, or lofts today. It is a city that has taken its history, embraced it, and modernized the downtown without losing the feel of begone eras. Swollen up around the old downtown is a city of a different matter of suburban sprawl with particularly confusing roads and bypasses and the home of the (in)famous (in this writer’s opinion) Liberty University.
An old flour mill near the James River.
The Lynchburg Riverwalk is a former railroad track and the old railroad bridges is still visible.
the origin of lynchburg, virginia’s city name
I remember upon moving to Charlottesville, Virginia and first hearing about the city of Lynchburg, a little more than an hour away to the south. As a new resident to the American South, this former Californian experienced some culture shock to hear talk of the Civil War (rarely mentioned in California) as if it was still ongoing to some extent, and to see Confederate flags and symbols marring buildings or cars. So, I think it is a bit excusable that I jumped to some conclusions about the origins of the name of Lynchburg. I think my first reaction was along the lines of “yikes”.
Research into the origin of the word and town name yields interesting results. The good news is that Lynchburg is named after John Lynch, who began the first ferry to cross the James River in 1757. The bad news is that John’s brother Charles Lynch is the likely source of the word used across the south to inflict terror. Charles was a member of the early Virginia legislature and part of the militia in the area. He and other militia members became involved in extralegal punishments enacted by themselves and which became known as “Lynch’s Law,” the word ‘lynching’ then derived from his name as the most likely etymology.
The old cemetery is worth a visit.
The obsession many in the south feel toward the civil war (specifically pining for the Confederacy) has always disturbed us.
Rows of graves to former Confederate soldiers.
Lynchburg’s Confederate hospitals treated soldiers from many states.
a quick visit to lynchburg: what to do
With just a long weekend for our trip and day trips to the surrounding areas, we had a chance to check out a few facets of Lynchburg’s historic downtown district. Here are some recommendations for those in the area:
- Dine along the James River. We had dinner at The Depot Grille, which was fantastic by way of both food and setting.
- Walk, run, or bike on the Riverwalk Trail or another part of the trail system. Riverwalk Trail starts right along the river, crosses the bridge over it and continues on for over 3 miles. The long pedestrian bridge across the James River is a perfect spot for enjoying the view of the city along its banks.
- Are historic neighborhoods and houses your thing?Lynchburg has plenty if you know the right areas to look! Some areas are best driveable (due to distance), other areas you can park your car and walk up and down neighborhood streets. This guide is available online or by stopping in the visitor's center in Lynchburg.
- Check out the Old City Cemetery situated on 27 acres in the heart of the city, founded in 1806, and still in use today. They also offer weddings there, which is an interest side business. Even as someone who loves old cemeteries, I'm not wholly sure how I feel about that.
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Check out our other posts about Virginia:
Exploring Appomattox
The site where Lee surrendered to Grant, more or less ending the US Civil War.