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

City Historian

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 31, 2013

1. City Historian Marker

Inscription. Erected by friends in honor of V.N. “Bud” Phillips who came to Bristol as a total stranger on August 20, 1953 yet in time became one of her best known, highly respected and influential citizens…so much so that “Bud Phillips Day” was celebrated in Bristol on May 5, 2004 and on April 27, 2008 he received a Mayor’s Outstanding Citizens Award. Though he came here with no knowledge of the city’s past, he eventually wrote books of local history, a very popular newspaper column, had two television shows, one radio show, gave countless speeches and conducted numerous tours, all dedicated to the exhaustive history of his chosen city. In 2006, he was made the Official Historian of Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee. He long resided at historic Pleasant Hill at 214 Johnston Street in Bristol, Virginia.

Truly, he was “a workman that needeth not be ashamed.”

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1781.

Location. 36° 35.688′ N, 82° 10.392′ W. Marker is in Bristol, Virginia. It can be reached from East Hill Cemetery Drive north of East State Street,

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on the left when traveling north. Marker is located in East Hill Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 310 E State St, Bristol VA 24201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Tri-Cities Area,

in Southwest Virginia,

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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: First Burial in East Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Slave Section of East Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); East Hill Cemetery Confederate Veterans Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Founder of Bristol (about 300 feet away in Tennessee);

City Historian Marker in East Hill Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 31, 2013

2. City Historian Marker in East Hill Cemetery

East Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away in Tennessee); a different marker also named East Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away in Tennessee); Evan Shelby (approx. ¼ mile away in Tennessee); First Baptist Church (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bristol.

Bud Phillips Memorial Bench near the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

3. Bud Phillips Memorial Bench near the marker

Victor Nicholas (Bud) Phillips August 25, 1929 January 9, 2017

Top of the Bud Phillips Memorial Bench near the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

4. Top of the Bud Phillips Memorial Bench near the marker

Friend rest here a while and look to the west
And view the city which I chose for my home in 1953
And found it to be truly A Good Place to Live

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 897 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.