Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia

The nationally known Appalachian Trail runs 544 miles through Virginia and crosses through southern Smyth County. There is easy access to the Trail at several road crossings in the County. About 5 miles south of Marion, Route 16 crosses the Trail at the location of the Headquarters Building of Mount Rogers National Recreation Area as it tops Brushy Mountain.

The trail passes through the "Settlers Museum" property between the visitors center and the one room schoolhouse. There is a log book for hikers in the schoolhouse which is never locked. Seven miles east of Marion the Trail crosses under Interstate 81 at exit 54 near Groseclose.

A large portion of Smyth County is located within the boundaries of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, which is named for the majestic Mount Rogers. This spectacular mountain -- the highest peak in Virginia at an elevation of 5,729 feet above mean sea level-- affords Appalachian Trail hikers one of the most memorable mountain top views in the Eastern United States!

This is the first stop to begin your tour of the Settlers Museum.  This building houses the exhibition titled "The Migration Story" which explains the story of the Ulster-Scots and German Palatinates migration down the Wilderness Road.  Visitors can pick up a brochure here that will help further explain additional sites on the museum grounds. Audio tapes are available at no additional cost for visits to the 1894 School and 1890 Farm.

The Lindamood school is a great example of the typical one-room school house in Southwest Virginia during the 1890s. Still located where it was originally built, visitors will enjoy hearing the story of educational development in Southwest Virginia. With reproduction school desks, wood burning stove and  1800's rules for both students and teachers, visitors are sure to have a better understanding of rural school life.

The Linamood school had seven grades, taught by one teacher who was paid about $30.00 a month. The school year was five months, running from late October through March. In Smyth County VA, the 1855 country records show that there were 67 schools in the county, 62 were one room.

Virginia didn't have a state financed school system until 1869.  Up to then schools like this one were financed by subscriptions by the parents. In 1894 when this school was built, the state mandated the curriculum which included the famous McGuffey readers and spellers, also math, grammar, geography, U.S. history, and Virginia history. Graduates moved on to high school at Atkins.

As you journey down the 1/2 mile farm lane, you will see the end result of a century of sustainable living. Growing crops, splitting rails, building fences, pulling stumps, and erecting buildings were all done by hand. During the farms 1890s heyday it encompassed 275 acres, a two story farmhouse, and eleven outbuildings.

The farm lane has been in the same place from the day when the first trees were felled.  It continued past the farmhouse and over the hill to the neighbors home.  It was fenced with a snaked rail fence of chestnut like the one along it now.  To fence the 275 acre farm would have required over 30,000 rails.

Check out the shrubs growing in the fence now.  The one with the aromatic leaves is sassafras.  Its roots make a delicious tea considered medicinal.  It was one of the first exports from Virginia.  This important plant also has three shapes of leaves on a single plant.