Explore the Heart of Virginia
Learn About Prince Edward County, VA
1,600+
Annual Visitors to Visitor Center
19
National and County Historic Landmarks
3
Virginia State Parks
2
Colleges and Universities
Explore Our History
- Explore Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historic State Park, one of the important Civil War sites in Virginia.
- Drive Lee’s Retreat, a 100-mile tour following the path of the famous Civil War general, and stop at a number of local sites, including the High Bridge and Rice’s Depot.
- Visit the historical marker for Israel Hill, a community founded along the Appomattox River in 1810 by 90 formerly enslaved people. Known as “Israelites,” they worked as farmers, craftspeople and boatmen, helping shape Farmville’s early economy and culture.
- Follow the Civil Rights Walking Tour, a self-guided, two-mile tour highlighting sites important to the student-led civil rights movement in Prince Edward County.
- Discover the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, a self-guided driving tour featuring civil rights landmarks and historic sites across Virginia with a number in Prince Edward County.
Step Into 250 Years of Prince Edward County History in Our Visitor Center
Famous Faces
1964: Robert F. Kennedy Visits Free Schools
College Town
2002: Longwood College Becomes Longwood University
Building Prince Edward County
1853: Construction of the High Bridge
Early History
1775: Hampden-Sydney College Founded
Civil Rights
1951: Barbara Rose Johns Leads Walkout
State Parks
1976: Twin Lakes State Park Named
Cultural Destinations
Step Into the Arts, History & Heritage of Prince Edward County
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) features free art exhibitions and programming for visitors of all ages. As the art museum of Longwood University, the LCVA’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the region by providing full access to the visual arts.
Moton Museum
The Robert Russa Moton Museum, a National Historic Landmark, tells the story of the 1951 student strike and the subsequent school closings in Prince Edward County from 1959-1964. Learn more about Barbara Johns and the fight for civil rights in education.
Downtown Farmville
Downtown Farmville’s historic commercial district includes unique clothing boutiques, antiques, handmade pottery, jewelry, confections, art, furniture, home decor, wellness products and even shops that outfit you for kayaking in Virginia with canoes, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. Discover one-of-a-kind treasures while shopping in Farmville, VA.
Shaping Visitor Experiences
- Mark Smith, Chair
- Sandy Cooke, Vice Chair
- Chris Conkwright
- Tiffany Duffie
- Daniel Jordan
- Richard McClintock
- Anne Tyler Paulek
- Jacob Romaine
- Cainan Townsend
- Chelsey White, Director of Economic Development and Tourism
- Molly Kinahan, Tourism Coordinator
