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Lynchburg is a city of about 80,000 people on the James River in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. It began as a ferry crossing in 1757 and grew rich on tobacco, with warehouses and mansions spreading across its steep hills, which earned it the nickname "City of Seven Hills."
Downtown sits above the riverfront, where old tobacco warehouses now hold restaurants, lofts and the Amazement Square children's museum. The Lynchburg Community Market has run since 1783, and the Monument Terrace steps climb from Main Street to the old courthouse. Riverside Park and Blackwater Creek Trail follow the water, and Point of Honor is a restored 1815 mansion overlooking the city.
The city is home to Liberty University, Randolph College and the University of Lynchburg. Thomas Jefferson's retreat at Poplar Forest is just outside town, Appomattox Court House, where the Civil War effectively ended, is about 25 miles east, and the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway are a short drive west.
Historic riverfront district of brick warehouses on the James River with restaurants, breweries, galleries and the Academy Center of the Arts. The Bluffwalk path links streets on different levels. Park once in a city garage and explore on foot, as the hills are steep.
One of the oldest continuously operating markets in the country, dating to 1783, in a covered hall on Main Street downtown. Farmers, bakers and craftspeople sell local produce, food and gifts. Saturday morning is the busiest and best time to visit.
Federal-style mansion built around 1815 for Dr. George Cabell, physician to Patrick Henry, on Daniel's Hill above the James River. Guided tours show restored rooms with period furniture and the unusual octagonal bays. It is run by the Lynchburg Museum System; check tour times first.
Museum in a Victorian house on Monroe Street that tells the story of Black life in Lynchburg and central Virginia through rotating exhibits on education, medicine, business and civil rights. It is small and personal; hours are limited, so call or check online before going.
Historic cemetery founded in 1806 with graves of enslaved and free people, a Confederate section and several small museums including a Pest House medical museum. Its gardens of antique roses are lovely in spring. The grounds are free and open daily from dawn to dusk.
Home of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer on Pierce Street, with her restored garden and the small writing cottage she called Edankraal. Guests included Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois. The garden is usually open to visitors; house tours need an appointment.
Thomas Jefferson's private octagonal retreat a short drive southwest of Lynchburg, which he designed and visited to escape crowds at Monticello. Guided tours cover the ongoing restoration and archaeology on the plantation. Allow about two hours and check seasonal hours.
Grand stairway of more than 130 steps climbing from Main Street to the Old Court House, lined with memorials to local soldiers of several wars. It is one of the city's best-known views. Walk up for the panorama over downtown, then visit the court house museum at the top.
Large park on Rivermont Avenue with tall trees, a playground, sprayground and picnic shelters. It also displays the hull remains of the packet boat Marshall, which carried Stonewall Jackson's body on the canal in 1863. It is a good family stop on a sunny afternoon.
Paved and gravel trails along an old railroad bed through the Blackwater Creek Natural Area, with a historic tunnel, wooded gorge and bridges linking to Percival's Island on the James River. It is popular for biking, running and walking; several trailheads have free parking.
Hands-on children's museum in a restored riverfront building downtown, with four floors of play exhibits on science, art, health and local history, topped by a climbing tower. It is best for kids up to about 12; plan two hours and check opening days, as it closes some weekdays.
Art museum on the Randolph College campus with a respected collection of American paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Mary Cassatt, Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keeffe. Admission is free; it keeps academic-year hours, so check before going.
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