Salem, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Roanoke College Statement of Context

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 25, 2026

1. Roanoke College Statement of Context Marker

Inscription.
This Confederate monument will always capture a deep sense of loss. Not just the loss of deceased Confederate soldiers, but also the loss of lives of enslaved people, free people of color, and other individuals who rejected the causes of Confederate secession, and whose stories are excluded from this shared public space. Roanoke County sold the courthouse building and surrounding land to Roanoke College in 1987, but retains ownership of the Confederate monument and the land underneath it. Roanoke County's monument connects us to a past that will not be part of our future. This is not our monument.

Erected by Roanoke College.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.

Location. 37° 17.613′ N, 80° 3.273′ W. Marker is in Salem, Virginia. It is at the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 460) and College Avenue, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 E Main St, Salem VA 24153, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Virginia’s Mountain Region,

in Southwest Virginia,

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Roanoke County Confederate Monument (here, next to this marker); William Howard Thompson (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The John R. Turbyfill '53 Quadrangle (about 600 feet away); Kim Kyusik (about 700 feet away); Roanoke College Administration Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); East Hill Cemetery North (approx. ¼ mile away); World War 1917 - 1919 Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Walter Joseph Biggs (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salem.

Additional commentary.
1. About the location of the Confederate Monument
The

Roanoke College Statement of Context Marker next to the Confederate Monument image. Click for full size.

April 25, 2026

2. Roanoke College Statement of Context Marker next to the Confederate Monument

Confederate Monument stands on the grounds of the old courthouse in the City of Salem. Note that the City of Salem serves as the county seat of Roanoke County, even though the City of Salem is legally distinct from the county. In other words, this means that Roanoke County maintains ownership of the monument and the ground it stands on even though it does not physically stand in Roanoke County.

— Submitted April 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 18 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on April 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on April 28, 2026.