Near Big Stone Gap in Lee County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lee County / Wise County

Lee County side of marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

1. Lee County side of marker

Inscription. Lee County, the western-most county in Virginia, was formed from Russell County in 1792; a part of Scott County was added later. The county is named for Henry “Light- Horse Harry” Lee, governor of Virginia from 1791 to 1794 and former American Revolutionary War officer. Cumberland Gap National Historic Park lies partly in Lee County and in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. The Cumberland Gap was the principal route through the mountains that Native Americans and early European settlers used to travel to the west and the south. The county seat is Jonesville.

Wise County was formed in 1856 from Lee, Scott, and Russell counties. It was named for Henry Alexander Wise who was governor of Virginia from 1856 to 1860. The county seat is the town of Wise. After the Civil War the town of Wise grew and the county's industry expanded because of the growth of the railroads and the increased mining of coal in the region. Noted novelist John Fox Jr. lived in the town of Big Stone Gap here for a portion of his life and wrote the best-selling novels The Trail of the Lonesome Pine and The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.

Erected 2003 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Z-189.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

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in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1792.

Location. 36° 48.714′ N, 82° 47.254′ W. Marker is near Big Stone Gap, Virginia, in Lee County. Marker is on Orby Cantrell Highway (U.S. 23) 0.4 miles south of Baxley Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Big Stone Gap VA 24219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Donelson’s Indian Line (within shouting distance of this marker); Seminary United Methodist Church (approx. 2.6 miles away); Turkey Cove (approx. 2.6 miles away); Members of Congress (approx. 3.4 miles away); Southwest Virginia Museum (approx. 3.6 miles away); Christ Episcopal Church (approx. 3.7 miles away); Big Stone Gap (approx. 3.8 miles away); Carl Martin (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Stone Gap.

Also see . . .
1. Henry Lee III. Wikipedia entry on the early American Patriot and U.S. politician. (Submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Henry A. Wise. Wikipedia entry on the attorney,

Wise County side of marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

2. Wise County side of marker

diplomat, politician and slave owner from Virginia. (Submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Henry Lee III. (Submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Lee County / Wise County Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

3. Lee County / Wise County Marker

Looking northward on U.S. 23.

Henry Lee III (1756-1818) image. Click for full size.

William Edward West via Wikipedia (Public Domain), circa 1839

4. Henry Lee III (1756-1818)

Nicknamed "Light-Horse Harry" for his horsemanship, he was Virginia's ninth governor and the father of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Henry Alexander Wise (1806-1876) image. Click for full size.

Unknown via Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), circa 1865

5. Henry Alexander Wise (1806-1876)

Virginia's 33rd governor, he advocated for the state's secession from the Union but accepted slavery's abolition and urged peaceful reunification after the Civil War.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.