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]

Where the Little River is crossed by State Road 8 is the border between these two Virginia counties…read moreand this two sided historical marker. On the side facing Floyd County, it reads, "Montgomery County was named for Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the American assault on Quebec on 31 Dec. 1775. The county was formed from Fincastle County in 1776, and parts of Botetourt and Pulaski Counties were added later. The county seat is Christiansburg. William Preston, a Revolutionary officer, Indian fighter, and member of the House of Burgesses completed Smithfield, one of the county's outstanding historic houses, in 1774. His son James Patton Preston and a grandson John Buchanan Floyd, born at Smithfield, both served as governors of Virginia." And on the side facing Montgomery County, it reads, "Floyd County was named for John Floyd, governor of Virginia from 1830 to 1834. The county was formed from Montgomery County in 1831, with a portion of Franklin County added later. The county seat is Floyd, formerly Jacksonville. Admiral Robbey Evans, hero of the Spanish-American War, was born here in 1846. Congressman William Ballard Preston and Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, C.S.A., served the county as commonwealth's attorneys. Henry Dillon, a noted area builder, using architect Asher Benjamin's pattern book, The Practical House Carpenter, constructed the old Floyd Presbyterian Church in 1850." The marker is on the other side of a metal barrier and there is little room to stop. [Review 13761 overall, 1082 of 2020, number 1196 in Virginia.]

Not at all easy to get to, this marker is off the interstate but there's only one way to get to it…read moreand one way to get back. A seven mile round trip unless you're heading to/from Pulaski via the ulta scenic route. The marker reads, "Crockett's Cove has been home to the Crockett family for two centuries. It was named for Lt. John Crockett, Sr. (1737-1799), son of Samuel and Esther Thompson Crockett, a Revolutionary War veteran buried in the family cemetery a mile east. His half-brother Lt. Col. Robert Sayers (1754-1826), buried on a hill near him, also served in the war and later became a justice of the peace and a member of the Virginia General Assembly. On 10 May 1864 during the Civil War, just east of the Allen Crockett house here, occurred a cavalry engagement between the brigades of Union Brig. Gen. William W. Averell and Confederate Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones." [Review 20384 overall - 1443 in Virginia - 1362 of 2023.]

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]

Opposite the Montgomery County Sheriff's office, this memorial is dedicated to those who are…read morecurrently serving, those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The monument indicates the same and includes a list of names from Montgomery County who served and died during World War I (1917-1918) and World War II (1941-1946). It is located in a small grassy space with some parking nearby. It is granite and in very good condition, considering that it was erected by the Montgomery County American Legion Post Number 59 on May 31, 1953 (Memorial Day). [Review 13822 overall, 1143 of 2020, number 1256 in Virginia.]

This 48-foot span bridge built of oak crosses the Smith River. It was constructed in 1914 by…read moreCharles Vaughan of the Buffalo RIdge area and designed by Walter Weaver of Woolwine. It is a single-span queenpost truss. It is the only historic covered bridge remaining in Patrick County and is maintained by the Patrick County government. The Jack's Creek Covered Bridge was widened and received a new roof in 1969, followed by a full restoration by the Virginia Department of Highways in 1974, at a cost of approximately $4,550. Every June, the bridge is the site of the Patrick County Covered Bridge Festival. The bridge is in pristine condition and is open to the public though of course it is not open to vehicular traffic. It has been replaced by an adjacent boring concrete bridge. [Review 13754 overall, 1075 of 2020, number 1189 in Virginia.]

Early Monday morning in Bland meant that the courthouse was still waking up, which made it easy to…read moretake in the 1923 Bland County Courthouse without a single interruption. It's a solid Classical Revival design by renowned architect Frank P. Milburn, the same guy responsible for a long list of early twentieth century courthouses across Virginia and the Carolinas, and his familiar symmetry and brick‑and‑stone detailing show up clearly here. Bland County takes its name from Richard Bland, the Virginia statesman and early advocate for colonial rights. The county's most widely known modern resident is probably Olympian and world champion wrestler Dennis Hall, who grew up here. Walking the grounds before the offices opened meant that I had time to look over the usual Confederate memorial statue, the local history marker and the Bland County Courthouse Bell on display, all of which give the lawn a little extra texture even if none of it rises to statewide fame. The courthouse has handled the routine mix of local criminal and civil matters over the decades but nothing that ever turned into a headline case. Parking was easy at that hour and the quiet made the stop feel calm and straightforward, a quick look at a well‑kept rural courthouse that still anchors its small mountain county. [Review 901 of 2026 - 1551 in Virginia - 26082 overall]

The heading here on yelp *should* say "Carroll County Visitor & Information Center." Just a turn…read moreoff the main drag, this is a nice place to get a quick pit stop, stretch your legs, ask the nice lady some quick questions, and even check out a gift shop featuring local crafts and arts. The restrooms were clean, and there's even a small farmer's market just across the parking lot.