River's Edge Park in Roanoke, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

A Colonial Ford

Photographed by Kevin W., December 28, 2008

1. A Colonial Ford Marker

Inscription. The Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia to the backcountry of the Carolinas crossed the Roanoke River here at Tosh's Ford, named for Thomas Tosh, in the eighteenth century. Nearby stood Daniel Evans's mill, another landmark on the road. A group of Moravians, among the many thousands of settlers who passed this way, crossed the ford at dawn on 2 Nov. 1783 en route from Bethlehem, Pa., to Bethabara, N.C. One wrote in his diary of the ford's "slippery stones" and reported that "a quarter of a mile beyond we came to Even's mill." Mill Mountain is named for Evans's mill.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-116.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 2, 1783.

Location. 37° 15.279′ N, 79° 57.006′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Virginia. It is in River's Edge Park. It is at the intersection of Franklin Road Southwest (Virginia Route 220) and Wiley Drive, on the right when traveling north on Franklin Road Southwest. At the Franklin Road entrance to Rivers Edge Sports Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1911 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke VA 24014, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountain Region

and in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Great Roanoke Fair & Mountain Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Arthur Taubman (approx. 0.3 miles away); Big Lick Presbyterian Church (approx. half a mile away); History of Evan Mill and Crystal Spring (approx. half a mile away); The Virginian Railway Roanoke Passenger Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Virginian Railway Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lynching in America / The Lynching of Thomas Smith (approx. 0.8 miles away); Welcome to Mill Mountain Wildflower Garden (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roanoke.

Photographed by Kevin W., December 28, 2008

2. A Colonial Ford Marker

Mill Mountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., December 28, 2008

3. Mill Mountain

Mentioned on the A Colonial Ford Marker, Mill Mountain is home to the Roanoke Star, the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. In this picture, it is at the upper left. Constructed in 1949, it is lit up at night with red, white and blue lights and can be seen for many miles on a clear night.

The Colonial "Tosh's Ford" on the Roanoke River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, November 16, 2008

4. The Colonial "Tosh's Ford" on the Roanoke River

The ford, or shallow point along the river that is favorable to crossing, mentioned in the marker is seen here. The point along the Roanoke River once called Tosh's Ford is now easily crossed by way of the Franklin Road bridge, from which this photo was taken. The large reflective building in the distance is Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, behind which towers Mill Mountain.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,676 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 28, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 3, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.