The African American lady who works behind the counter on the far left is AWFUL. She was incredibly…read morerude, condescending, unhelpful and made me want to cry by the time I left. I am never going here again due to this horrible employee.

I can't bash this post office too much, but it's just typical of the woes befalling this once…read morerespected and mighty institution. It's a big facility, but the service lobby area is cramped and poorly laid out, and since there's always a line, that's not good. The self service machine is okay and the post office boxes don't look like they have issues. The parking lot is a train wreck. The exit is too close to the light on 419 so cars back up into the parking lot very quickly. If someone just took one minute to think and plan, this probably could have been a decent location, but I don't think there's a lot of strategic planning that goes on at the post office. Also, I wanted to get Christmas stamps but the line was long so I figured I'd get something from the machine. And I received the world's most hideous stamps. That said, the cards will still get mailed.

Wonderfully surprised with how in depth and formal the appointment was…read more Employee knew his stuff and had everything straightened out very quickly. I was utterly impressed. Thank you.

Located in a beautifully designed red brick modern building at 612 S Jefferson Street in Roanoke,…read moreVirginia, this Social Security office is right next to the Roanoke Public Library (Downtown Roanoke Branch) and in front of the Historic Patrick Henry Apartment Building, Its exterior landscaping is also an example of simple yet beautiful design. A red brick outdoor floor provides the base for an amazing bronze eagle sculpture in the center, surrounded by green areas and iron benches going around it, providing a resting area and an opportunity of enjoying the view. The inside design consists of an elegant entrance with lots of woodworks and simply.but lovely ceiling lamps. Behind a large wooden Security Desk, their are Security Officers who greet you when you arrive and always ask you a battery of questions and explain how to check-in, before they let you in to the offices area of the first floor where most business is done there. This Government office offers a range of programs including retirement, disability, survivor, and supplemental security income benefits. And other services such as issuing replacement Social Security cards. Appointments are recommended but not necessary. Make sure you bring your Social Security number with you if you have one, as well as a government photo ID. When you enter the first floor offices waiting area, you first have to sign in on one of two computer machines where you type the answers to several questions and these machine generate your appointment ticket with a special number code which you have to have to take a seat and wait until it's called together with the window number where you should go to once called over the speaker. All the employees there are very courteous, knowledgeable, efficient, and very helpful. As long as you bring the organized appropriate documentation, you will be able to finish in a reasonable time period.

This location is out of the way, unless I have errands in the area. There wasn't any line. I rang…read morethe bell and an employee helped me right away. She was nice. I was mailing a certified letter. Instead of asking me to get out of line and fill out the slip myself, she filled it out. That is unlikely to happen in DC.

Legitimately the best service I've ever received at a post office. We went to one in a different…read morelocation to have a package sent and the people were so rude, we left to try another. We stopped here and both men behind the counter were so friendly and helpful.

The Hotel Roanoke is an iconic location in the Roanoke/Blacksburg region. Once a railroad hotel, it…read moreis now owned by Virginia Tech and operated by Hilton. The build is amazing. The structure has a Tudor facade and inside you find lots of wood finished panels, all having the luring you into reenactment of HG Wells Time Machine or a Stephen King The Shining. The hotel is connected to a very nice conference center, which I will discuss in a separate review, it also gets five stars. During the Pandemic, the hotel took the opportunity make renovations. I'm not particularly happy about what they did to The Pine Room, but the rest of the renovations seem positive. I find the beds at the HR a bit stiff for my old back, so if you're a soft mattress person you won't want to make long stays here. But a few nights I can deal, because the positives out weigh the need for a little extra sleep. Positives: downtown location makes easy and safe walking to the local bars, restaurants and museums. Really unique architecture makes the stay an experience. Fantastic staff are always there and pleasant! Negatives: train wheels through at 5 in the morning (they really should grease this axles) and the beds are hard.

Located in the parking lot of the hotel, this marker is easily accessible and there is some limited…read morestreet parking. It reads, "The Hotel Roanoke was built in 1892 by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Over the next century, despite fire and depression, it became the city's social center. The Tudor Revival building became a beloved landmark for thousands of visitors. Its original 34 rooms had grown to 384 rooms when, in 1989, the N&W donated it to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. After a major renovation and the addition of a conference center, it reopened in 1995. The Hotel Roanoke was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1995 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1996." The hotel is currently owned by Virginia Tech and operated under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand. It is a stunning property and a significant piece of Roanoke history. This business (I'm talking to you, Yelp!) SHOULD REMAIN separate from the hotel itself. [Review 13778 overall, 1099 of 2020, number 1213 in Virginia.]

Located inside the Ironto rest area, this historical marker points out one of the local features…read moreand after reading, I was on my way swiftly. It reads, "Near here stood Montgomery White Sulphur Springs, popular resort area of 19th century America. During the Civil War the resort was converted into a military hospital staffed by Catholic nuns. Several hundred victims of smallpox including nurses and soldiers are buried nearby. The Southern Historical Society was reorganized here in August, 1873, when Jefferson Davis delivered the principal address." Online, there is more information. "The Virginia-Tennessee Railroad brought guests from Lynchburg to the small station at Big Tunnel (Montgomery). From there, passengers rode cars propelled by gravity down to the resort. The idyllic vacation spot was transformed by the Civil War. From 1862 to 1865, Montgomery White Sulphur Springs operated as a Confederate general hospital under Dr. J. Lewis Woodville, Chief Surgeon. At its peak, Montgomery White accommodated up to 700 sick, wounded, and recovering Confederate soldiers." The resort closed its doors and was reverted to farmland. That area is not open to the public. [Review 13764 overall, 1085 of 2020, number 1199 in Virginia.]

Booker T. Washington. If you attended 4th grade in VA public school system, then you were taught…read moreabout the Life of Booker T Washington. Born into slavery, in VA, to be freed and to create a better life for black Americans. I took a 2 mile walk here on the farm. I saw chickens, horses, tobacco houses and his home. A very nice peice of land. Glad to have seen and stopped at this National Monument!

Whether you're a history buff or someone looking for a beautiful place to stretch your legs, this…read morenational monument is worth a stop. Booker T Washington was born into slavery on this plantation, later freed during the Civil War and went on to become an educator, author and political activist. You can learn more about his life inside the visitor center as well as from the information boards scattered throughout the property. I highly recommend a walk on the Jack o' Lantern loop trail which is about 2 miles long and takes you past old buildings and through the woods. Dogs are also allowed on the trail if they are on a leash. The visitor center is open from 10am-4pm and the grounds are open from 9am-5pm with the exception of some major holidays. And there is no fee to visit!

I love the library at SML! There is plenty of parking. The surrounding area is beautiful. There are…read morecomfy places to sit. If you don't have a laptop or other device, you can sit at one of the library computers. There are used book/movie sales, activities and classes (photography, computers, internet safety, etc). When it isn't crowded (which is frequently) you can stay longer at a computer. There are lots of activities (and toys) for kids. When the weather is warmer, it is fun to go across the street and grab ice cream or pizza.

The library is more like a coffee shop. It is noisy with people talking loud and using their cell…read morephones like no one else is around.

I've seen many memorials dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But none so memorable and of such…read morelocal and national historical significance as this one. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge in Downtown Roanoke, formerly known as the First Street Bridge and Henry Street Bridge, features engraved quotes and a 7-foot bronze statue of Dr. King wearing a business suit with his arms outstretched overlooking the historic Gainsboro neighborhood. The granite pedestal includes a relief panel of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King marching in Washington, D.C. The statue was sculptured by the husband and wife sculptor team of Jeffrey H. Varilla and Anna Koh Varilla (whose studio is Koh-Varilla Guild in Chicago), and stands at the north side of the MLK Jr. Memorial Bridge. Even before knowing the history behind this area when I first moved to Roanoke, crossing over the bridge and seating on one of the benches facing the Statue of Dr. King brought me great interior peace and hope for the future. These interactive benches near the memorial statue are equipped with speakers. One can press buttons to listen to clips of Dr. Kings iconic speeches. Historically, this crossing was a symbol of segregation, dividing Downtown Roanoke from the historically African American Gainsboro neighborhood. But today it serves as an important landmark honoring the region's rich African American Heritage, civil rights history, and acts as a gathering place to celebrate these and move forward. The statue and bridge were dedicated in 2008. This site is open to the public year-round. I highly recommend and encourage you to give it a visit whenever you're in the area, considering it is a powerful landmark for reflection on the civil rights history.

This narrow pedestrian bridge (formerly the First Street Bridge, later the Henry Street Bridge)…read morecarries people across the railroad tracks between downtown Roanoke and the Gainsboro neighborhood. Repaired and reopened to traffic in 2008, it no longer carries vehicles but only pedestrians and bicycles. At the one end of the bridge is a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King with some benches. From the bridge, you can look down into the railyard where the Norfolk & Southern and the Amtrak Northeast Regional trains pass. The bridge is 316 feet long and is a steel pony truss. It is the last steel truss bridge in Roanoke. It is in good condition though I wouldn't recommend walking barefoot across it. [Review 13794 overall, 1116 of 2020, number 1228 in Virginia.]