This marker is on the corner of the Grayson County Courthouse and points out the history of this…read morecity. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "This place became the county seat of Grayson County in 1850; the first case was tried in the newly erected courthouse in 1851. The present courthouse was built in 1908. Independence was incorporated in 1934." Independence began taking shape in the early nineteenth century as settlement pushed into the highlands of what had recently become Grayson County, and it was officially named to reflect the young nation's patriotic spirit. The town became the county seat after Greenville lost the role, a shift driven by Independence's more central location and growing civic activity. In 1908, the community built the landmark Classical Revival courthouse, designed by Frank P. Milburn, which has anchored the town's identity for more than a century. Independence also played a role in regional commerce as a stop along early roads linking th New River valley to the North Carolina line. The Civil War didn't sweep directly through what is now Independence and no major engagements took place in the immediate area. Grayson County was geographically tucked into the highlands, away from the primary Shenandoah Valley campaigns and the major east‑west troop movements. When I was here, the marker was in very poor condition. Maybe they cleaned it up in the last couple of weeks since my visit? [Review 889 of 2026 - 1540 in Virginia - 26070 overall]

On the way to the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower state park, we spotted this marker on the roadside just…read moreoff I-77. The marker points out the border between the two counties and provides some history of each. On one side, "Carroll County Formed in 1842 from Grayson, and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River runs through this county." And on the reverse, "Wythe County Formed in 1789 from Montgomery, and named for George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River flows through this county." This is marker number Z-103. It was erected in 1929 by Virginia Conservation & Development Commission. There is room to stop and read the marker. [Review 534 of 2025 - 1473 in Virginia - 24095 overall]

This marker is located on US-52 near Galena Creek and points out a local jurisdiction that no…read morelonger exists. It reads, "Fincastle County, established in 1772, was formed from Botetourt County. The Fincastle County seat was located opposite the lead mines on the north side of the New River in the western end of present day Austinville. In 1775, the Fincastle County Committee of Safety filed its resolutions with the Continental Congress supporting other American colonies' efforts for self-determination. The resolutions suggested the citizens were supportive of King George III, but they were not willing to be subjected to the possible loss of liberty and property. The county became extinct in 1776 when it was split into Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties." This is marker number KD-5 and it was erected in 2002 by the Department of Historic Resources. It is at an intersection so there is room to stop. [Review 546 of 2025 - 1475 in Virginia - 24107 overall]

This marker is at the roadside along US-21 and is a little challenging as there is not much room to…read morepull over. I was fortunate that there wasn't much traffic, but you should use caution. The marker briefly tells about a local politician who was born and lived nearby. It reads, "Born in Elk Creek, Virginia, June 29, 1821, Member of the House of Delegates, 1874-1877. Member State Senate, 1879-1882. One of the "Big Four," a group which resisted many of the proposals of the Readjusters. Died in Elk Creek, December 25, 1885." This is marker number U-23 and it was erected by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission in 1970. Peyton Guyn Hale spent most of his life rooted in Elk Creek, where he became known as a steady and deliberate local leader long before he ever held office. He built his reputation through community involvement and a careful, methodical approach to public issues, which later shaped the way he worked in Richmond. Hale was particularly noted for his willingness to push back against political movements he believed would destabilize Virginia's finances, earning him a reputation as a firm and sometimes stubborn defender of fiscal caution. His colleagues often described him as quiet but immovable, a man who preferred principle over popularity. Even after his legislative years, he remained closely tied to the people of Grayson County, finishing his life in the same community where it began. [Review 892 of 2026 - 1543 in Virginia - 26073 overall]

This marker is on the corner of Lee Highway and the appropriately named Withers Road. It's easy…read moreenough to spot and read while you wait at the traffic light. Marker K-37 tells us about Robert Enoch Withers, "Robert Enoch Withers was born in Campbell County on 18 Sept. 1821. After graduation from the medical department at the University of Virginia in 1841, he practiced medicine in Campbell County and Danville until 1861. During the Civil War Withers achieved the rank of colonel in the Confederate army. He served as the lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1874 to 1875 and in the United States Senate from 1875 to 1881. Withers was the U.S. Consul at Hong Kong from 1885 to 1889 and he died nearby at his home, Ingleside, on 21 Sept. 1907." It was erected by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in 2002. Withers became one of Virginia's most prominent postwar Conservative Party organizers, using his newspaper to rally opposition to Radical Reconstruction. He was also a leading national figure in Freemasonry, ultimately heading the Knights Templar in the United States. His wartime injuries at Gaines' Mill were so severe that doctors doubted he would survive, yet he recovered enough to resume mounted duty within months. Federal officials later noted his unusually humane treatment of Union prisoners in Danville, a reputation that helped shield him from postwar reprisals. Late in life, he wrote "Memoirs of an Octogenarian," offering a reflective, often opinionated account of nineteenth-century Virginia politics and society. [Review 895 of 2026 - 1546 in Virginia - 26076 overall]

Note: I added this as "Wythe County / Grayson County Historical Marker" but the Yelp machine…read moredecided to truncate it. *shrug* This marker is located along US-21 during a curved part of the road at Dry Run Gap. There is minimal space to pull over but if you're careful, you can read the marker. It is marker number Z-88. On the one side, "Wythe County. Formed in 1789 from Montgomery, and named for George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River flows through this county." and on the reverse, "Grayson County. Formed in 1792 from Wythe, and named for William Grayson, one of the first two United States Senators from Virginia. Headwaters of New River are in this county." Wythe County feels more settled and established, with its long history tied to the New River corridor and the early development of Southwest Virginia. Grayson County, by contrast, has a more rugged character shaped by its mountains, its scattered communities, and its deep ties to the highlands around Mount Rogers. Crossing the line on US‑21, you move from a county known for its courthouse town of Wytheville and its transportation routes into one defined by small valleys, old farms, and a quieter pace. Wythe County has long been a regional hub, while Grayson has kept a more rural identity anchored in places like Independence and Elk Creek. The border marker sits at a point where those two personalities meet, giving you a quick sense of how different neighboring counties can feel in this part of Virginia. [Review 894 of 2026 - 1545 in Virginia - 26075 overall]

This marker at the border of Floyd County and Patrick County (and also at the summit near Tuggles…read moreGap) provides some history of the two counties. It reads, "Floyd County. Formed in 1831 from Montgomery, and added to from Franklin. Named for John Floyd, Governor of Virginia 1830-34. Buffalo Knob is in this county." and on the other side, "Patrick County. Formed in 1790 from Henry, and named for Patrick Henry, who thus had two counties named for him. General J. E. B. Stuart was born in this county." The Blue Ridge Parkway passes very nearby. [Review 13755 overall, 1076 of 2020, number 1190 in Virginia.]

Yes, THAT Austin. Born here and known as the "Father of Texas" for leading the successful…read morecolonization of the region with 300 American families. After his father Moses Austin secured a land grant from Spain, Stephen carried out the plan following Mexico's independence in 1821. He worked to maintain peace with Mexican authorities while advocating for Texan autonomy, eventually supporting the Texas Revolution. The state capital of Texas is named Austin, for him. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836) was born near Austinville, three miles west of here. His father, Moses Austin, operated a substantial lead mine and smelting business nearby before moving the family to what is now Missouri in 1798. Moses Austin won permission in 1821 to establish the first large-scale Anglo-American colony in Spanish Texas but died that year. Stephen took over, brought thousands of people to Texas (by then part of Mexico), and negotiated with Mexican officials to promote the colonists' interests. During Texas's war for independence from Mexico (1835-1836) he was a commissioner to the United States, and he became the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas in 1836." It is marker number KD-8 and was erected in 2018 by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. There is a shop across the street where you can park to read the marker. [Review 535 of 2025 - 1474 in Virginia - 24096 overall]