A railroad museum with a walk-through tour, historic districts, and sites with African American history: Alleghany County offers different ways to explore its past. It’s not just about trains and technology. Stage performances, arts offerings, and industrial history are also part of the destination’s cultural profile.
Railroad History in Exhibitions and the City
The C&O Railway Heritage Center presents the history of the C&O Railway, its people, places, and technology. Indoor and outdoor exhibits, scale models, preserved railroad equipment, and recreated railroad structures bring the subject to life in different ways. The grounds present railroad history on a walk-through tour.
The Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District offers a different perspective: it documents how the city grew as an important railroad hub and how extensive rail yards developed for coal trains. The Jackson River Scenic Trail follows the former route of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway’s Hot Springs Branch. The exhibition, city history, and former rail line thus highlight different aspects of the railroad theme.
Stage, Arts, and Learning
The Historic Masonic Theatre in downtown Clifton Forge offers live music, film screenings, theater productions, educational programs, and community events. Its program therefore extends beyond a single form of stage performance. Those interested in fine and applied arts will find a different approach at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts, which offers adults and children learning and training opportunities through recreational and career-oriented programs.
At the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center, the gallery exhibition changes every four to six weeks. This provides a distinct rhythm alongside the ongoing cultural and educational offerings. Together, these institutions show the different ways arts and culture are presented at the destination: through events, hands-on learning opportunities, and changing gallery exhibitions.
Industry, Technology, and Community History
The Alleghany Highlands Industrial Heritage and Technology Discovery Center in downtown Covington combines interactive science exhibits with historical artifacts. Technology activities include 3D printers, model railroads, and experiments with industrial technology. The focus here is on a hands-on, technical approach to industrial history.
The history of Black communities is also visible at the region’s historic sites. Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church is the oldest known church building in Alleghany County; during the Civil War, it was converted into a Confederate hospital. From 1926 to 1965, Jefferson School provided African American students in Clifton Forge with elementary and secondary education. For nearly 40 years, it was central to the city’s Black community.
The Clifton Forge Residential Historic District focuses on homes associated with the growth and prosperity of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. The district also includes churches and schools associated with the district’s African American community. The school history and the district’s buildings complement each other without repeating the same historical perspective.
Bridges, Park History, and Industry
Humpback Bridge is the only surviving curved covered bridge in the United States and also Virginia’s oldest covered bridge. After it was bypassed in 1929, it was restored as part of a scenic wayside. Douthat State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its significance lies in the role its design played in the development of parks throughout the United States.
Other historical connections reach back to the Civil War: Australia Furnace supplied iron to Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond at the time. Together with the former railroad routes, historic districts, and cultural offerings, the destination thus offers several clearly distinct themes for a stay—from technology and industry to arts, education, and community history.
Discover more destinations: Low Moor, Orange County, Manassas, Isle Of Wight County, Clarke County, Henry County, Fredericksburg, Galax
For the broader travel overview: Virginia.
