A Civil Rights Road Trip Through the Heart of Virginia

Follow the path of the Civil Rights Movement on a trip through several unique towns. Check out our recommendations for your journey through the heart of Virginia. 

Day One: Appomattox & Lynchburg

In Appomattox, Virginia, visit the Carver-Price Legacy Museum. The museum documents the history of Carver-Price High School, a high school for Black students during segregation. In 1959, Prince Edward County closed its entire school system rather than integrate students—and the schools remained closed until 1964. During this time, Black students from Prince Edward County sought education from community groups and in other counties, and enrollment at Carver-Price increased to an excess of 50 students per classroom.

Before You Go: Tours can be arranged by completing an online form.  

After the museum, drive about 19 miles to the Lynchburg Community Market. There, you'll find Barb's Dream Hut, which serves all-day breakfast and a variety of lunch options. Owner Barbara Blair has been at the helm for decades. Make sure to save room for a lemon donut at Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats.

After eating, take some time to do a little walking around Lynchburg in the Pierce Street Historic District.  This is a small two-block stretch that is most notable for the people who once lived there, rather than the actual buildings.

Stop at the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum to learn more about Edward, the first Black parcel postman in Lynchburg, and his wife, Anne, a civil rights activist. 

1422 Pierce St is the property that was the launching pad for the first Black major tennis champion. Here, for more than two decades, Dr. Robert Walter Johnson trained, coached, and mentored Black players from his personal courts.  Among these players were Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson.  In 2002, the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Walk or drive by the property to honor the achievements of Dr. Johnson.

Day Two: Danville

For your morning in Danville, see how the town garnered national attention for its Civil Rights demonstrations at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. The permanent exhibit "The Movement: Danville's Civil Rights" lets visitors explore how the Danville Christian Progressive Association marched, argued, and fought for equal rights. The demonstrations included a 1960 sit-in at a segregated library—now the site of the museum itself. 

Go Deeper: The museum is one of several Virginia sites included on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

After your museum morning, head to Golden Leaf Bistro for lunch. If the weather's nice, snag a seat on the cozy patio to take in the neighborhood. After eating, it's a short walk to the Danville Riverwalk Trail. The 9-mile path goes along the Dan River.

After your walk, fuel up with a sweet treat from Ma's Cakes, a legendary bakery owned by Mary and Charles Walker. Grab a slice of cake or an entire pie for the road.

Bonus: Head to Ma's by way of Wendell Scott Drive. A Danville native, Wendell Scott was the first Black American to win a NASCAR race. Scott started driving in the Dixie Circuit because he was not allowed to race in NASCAR. He was later inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Day Three: Petersburg

Spend your final day just south of Richmond in Petersburg. The Petersburg area is filled with Black history, going back centuries. In the early 1800s, Petersburg had the largest population of free Black citizens in the South. These free individuals were instrumental in helping enslaved people in the area escape via the Underground Railroad.

First, drive by or take a walk and stop at the building that stands at the corner of Fillmore and Harrison Streets. This is the site of the first public high school for Black students in Virginia and one of the oldest in the South. Then, take a tour of First Baptist Church, the oldest Black church in North America according to historian Julian Greene Jr. 

"Before there was a Declaration of Independence, before there was a U.S. Constitution, before there was a Continental Army, there was a First Baptist," Greene said. 

Round out your morning with a visit to Virginia State University. The parent institution of Norfolk State University, VSU was the first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for Black Americans. The campus has beautiful landscapes overlooking the Appomattox River.

Stop for lunch at Croaker’s Spot, a Petersburg institution. The soul food restaurant was founded by Mr. Croaker, who grew up in Jackson Ward in Richmond. Try the Hot Buttered Soul Wedges and a crew of fried oysters.

For some higher-octane fun in the afternoon, check out the Virginia Motorsports Park. The 500-acre facility that is home to drag racing, moto cross, tractor pulls, and a family ATV park.

Wind down and cheers to your journey at Trapezium Brewing Co.