On State Street east of Piedmont Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Constructed during Bristol's early twentieth-century commercial expansion, this building was developed for retail use along State Street, the principal thoroughfare of the twin cities of Bristol.
The structure is most notably associated with . . . — — Map (db m305053) HM
Near Cumberland Street (Virginia Route 113) at Waters Alley, on the right when traveling east.
During the Korean War of 1950-1953, a young Korean became a houseboy for a group of American G.I's of the U.S. Army's 24th Division. One soldier, Sgt. Carl Powers, a school teacher from Dante, Virginia, felt compassion for the little fella and . . . — — Map (db m258051) HM
On Island Road (Interstate 81) 1 mile north of Exit 74, on the right when traveling north.
Bristol. In 1927 the Victor Talking Machine Company sent a portable studio to Bristol, and music publisher Ralph Peer advertised for traditional musicians wishing to try their hand at recording. The test pressings of the resulting “Bristol . . . — — Map (db m67275) HM
On State Street at Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, on the right when traveling west on State Street.
Landmark Bridge
between two states
Erected 1910
Placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior
September 8, 1988
Marker in memory of Mattie and Jim Owens
Bristol Historical . . . — — Map (db m258841) HM
On Lee Street south of Scott Street, on the left when traveling south.
Presented by Col. J. M. Barker of Bristol, Tenn. to the Chapter of the U.D.C. in memory of the brave men and noble women of Tennessee and Virginia from 1861 to 1865. Erected 1920 — — Map (db m211078) WM
On Mendota Trail east of Island Road, on the right when traveling east.
Bristol History
• The cities of Bristol, Virginia (originally Goodson, VA) and Bristol, Tennessee were created in 1856 when two separately built railroads met at the state line.
• The Southern Railway, a portion of which is now the . . . — — Map (db m305060) HM
On Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Virginia Route 113) north of State Street, on the right when traveling north.
The Rev. James King donated land for railroad facilities here in 1848, before the town of Bristol took root early in the 1850s. The first passenger train arrived on 1 Oct. 1856 on the railroad later known as the Norfolk and Western (N&W). In 1858, . . . — — Map (db m133882) HM
Near Cumberland Street at Lee Street, on the right when traveling west.
This Memorial, in remembrance of the Veterans of the Military Services of the United States, has been provided through the vision, perseverance and generosity of William W. Walling — — Map (db m258123) WM
On Lee Highway (U.S. 11/19) west of Sugar Hollow Road, on the right when traveling west.
The Sapling Grove tract (Bristol) was surveyed for John Tayloe, 1749. It was owned by Isaac Baker and Evan Shelby, who built a post about 1770. The Virginia tract was bought by John Goodson, whose son founded the town of Goodson, incorporated in . . . — — Map (db m210154) HM
Near East Hill Cemetery Drive north of East State Street, on the left when traveling north.
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 . . . — — Map (db m67285) HM
On State Street (State Highway 34) at Russell Street (State Highway 113), on the right when traveling west on State Street. Reported permanently removed.
Presented by Col. J.M.Barker of Bristol, Tenn. to the Chapter of the U.D.C. in memory of the brave men and noble women of Tennessee and Virginia from 1861 to 1865 — — Map (db m23143) WM
On Lee Street north of Cumberland Street ( Route 113), on the left when traveling north.
Charles S. Johnson, sociologist, author, and civil rights leader, was born in Bristol, son of a 42-year pastor of Lee Street Baptist Church. He attended Virginia Union University and the University of Chicago and served in combat during World War I. . . . — — Map (db m210163) HM
Near East State Street at Buford Street, on the right when traveling west.
(West Facing Side)
This monument dedicated to the Confederate Veterans buried in this cemetery
Pvt. John H D Allen, Co. K, 9th Ga. Inf.* •
2nd Lt. William E. Allen Co. I, 60th Tn. Inf. •
Pvt. George W. Ambrose, Co. I, 63rd Tn. Inf. . . . — — Map (db m258823) WM
On Cumberland Street at James Street, on the right when traveling east on Cumberland Street.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church was organized on January 26, 1862 with 16 charter members. Rev. Mowbray served as the first priest. For the first few years services were held in other local churches. The first building which housed the new church was . . . — — Map (db m258095) HM
On State Street at Stoneman Family Drive, on the right when traveling west on State Street.
In 1924, Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman (1893-1968) of Galax, Va., first recorded his self-penned song, "The Sinking of the Titanic", in New York for Ralph Peer at Okeh Records. It was his early commercial and financial success that lured Ralph Peer, the . . . — — Map (db m258046) HM
Near Sedgefield Street at State Street, on the right when traveling north.
This property has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
First Baptist Church
Est. 1912
by the United States
Department of the Interior — — Map (db m258831) HM
Near Julian Burroughs Circle west of V.N. Bud Phillips Drive.
This cemetery began late February 1857 with the burial here of 5-year-old Nellie Gaines. She was born in early January 1852, a daughter of tenant farmers who then lived on the Samuel Goodson plantation on Beaver Creek about two miles upstream from . . . — — Map (db m258780) HM
On 6th Street just south of State Street, on the right when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
Evan Shelby, noted Indian fighter, settled here about 1765 on a tract called "Sapling Grove". His home was a neighborhood fort, the refuge of settlers in Indian attacks. Bristol grew around this place and became an early railroad center. — — Map (db m258191) HM
On Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard at State Street, on the right when traveling north on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
Evan Shelby settled here about 1770 on a tract called Sapling Grove and established a fort and trading post. By early in the 19th century. James King and Samuel E. Goodson owned hundreds of acres of farmland in this area. Anticipating the arrival of . . . — — Map (db m258192) HM
On Johnson Street north of Sycamore Street, on the left when traveling north.
Johnson (originally named Johnston) Street was the first street to be laid out on Solar Hill in 1871. It was named for Joseph Johnston of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who sold the land for development. The name evolved into Johnson Street through . . . — — Map (db m258122) HM
On King Street south of Cumberland Street, on the right when traveling south.
This house was built as the grand seat of Rev. James King's vast plantation, first known as Sapling Grove and later Mountain View. Two rooms of the original house built in 1816-17 remain in the present structure. The King family lived here from . . . — — Map (db m258100) HM
On Sycamore Street at King Street, on the right when traveling west on Sycamore Street.
King's Alley and King Street were originally part of the Abingdon-Blountville division of the Old Stagecoach Road which was used from 1839-56. At one time four stagecoach runs per day were made. Andrew Johnson was injured here when a hornet flew . . . — — Map (db m258118) HM
On Lee Street north of Cumberland Street ( Route 113), on the left when traveling north.
In 1865, at the dawn of their freedom from slavery, 42 former members of the white-led Goodson (now First) Baptist Church organized the Anglo African Baptist Church. The congregation met in a series of buildings until, under the leadership of the . . . — — Map (db m210167) HM
On Oak Street north of Sycamore Street, on the left when traveling north.
Oak Street was named after a large grove of oak trees through which it passed. When the largest was felled in 1902 a fortune in gold coins was found in its hollow core. For a time Oak was known as Fortune Street in popular usage. In time the . . . — — Map (db m258113) HM
On Cumberland Street (Business Virginia Route 113) at Lee Street on Cumberland Street.
Dedicated to the hundreds of patriots from this area who fought in the American Revolution (1775 - 1783).
When the war in the north came to a stalemate by early 1780, the British turned their military strategy to the South. They believed . . . — — Map (db m32611) HM
On Solar Street at Westin Drive, on the right when traveling north on Solar Street.
Scott Street is an extension of an older Bristol, VA street named for General Winfield Scott. While the original structures no longer remain, at one time there were modest houses along its south side and extending a short distance down King's Alley . . . — — Map (db m258115) HM
Near East Hill Cemetery Drive north of East State Street, on the left when traveling north.
This site was established in 1857 by Bristol founder Joseph Rhea Anderson for the purpose of a slave cemetery. Buried nearby are twelve slaves including Old Si Goodson, who died in 1862, purportedly at the age of 132, reputed to be the oldest man in . . . — — Map (db m67287) HM
On Cumberland Street at Johnson Street, on the right when traveling west on Cumberland Street.
Solar Hill was the first major residential expansion of Bristol/Goodson. Originally the hill was part of the vast James King plantation and was largely covered by upland pastures. In 1859 it was sold to Joseph Johnston who sold it to the town for . . . — — Map (db m258093) HM
On Sycamore Street at Oak Street, on the right when traveling east on Sycamore Street.
Solar Hill was the first major residential expansion of Bristol/Goodson. It was named after an observatory was built to view the great solar eclipse of Aug. 7, 1869. An auction was held on July 5, 1871 to sell lots and development began immediately . . . — — Map (db m258112) HM
On Solar Street south of Sycamore Street, on the right when traveling south.
Along with several locations in eastern America this hill was chosen as an observation point from which astronomers sent from Washington, D.C. could view the great solar eclipse of August 7, 1869. For this reason the area, which had been known as . . . — — Map (db m258102) HM
On Solar Street at Sycamore Street, on the right when traveling north on Solar Street.
Solar Street was named after an observation platform was erected here to view the great solar eclipse of August 7, 1869, The platform was located near the south end of the present street. In 1871 the street was laid out and development began at what . . . — — Map (db m258105) HM
On Lee Street north of Cumberland Street, on the left when traveling north. Reported permanently removed.
The Crooked Road
Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Coalfields region, southwest Virginia is blessed with historic and contemporary music venues, musicians, and fretted instrument makers. Historically . . . — — Map (db m211075) HM
On Lee Street north of Cumberland Street ( Route 113), on the left when traveling north.
The Crooked Road
Virginia's Heritage Music Trail
Old-time mountain music, bluegrass, and gospel can be enjoyed all year long. Several museums are devoted to showcasing the area's rich music heritage and historical influence. . . . — — Map (db m305052) HM
Near Johnson Street north of Sycamore Street, on the left when traveling north.
(lower sign)
Historic Landmark
Bristol
The Best of Two States Preservation Society
Sunrise House
1895
(upper framed plaque)
The Sunrise House 1985
The "Sunrise House" was built about 1895 as a wedding gift for . . . — — Map (db m258120) HM
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (Virginia Route 113) north of State Street, on the right when traveling south.
Bristol resident J.C. Vance pioneered the concept of a Klondike Derby as a Scouting event in Bristol, Virginia, in 1968, and with his brother, Albert J. Vance, successfully launched the first event in 1970. Shortly before his death in 1975, J.C. . . . — — Map (db m135671) HM
On Lee Highway (U.S. 11/19) 0.1 miles west of Forsythe Road, on the right when traveling west.
Col. Robert Preston (1750-1833) acquired 720 acres here in the 1780s and established Walnut Grove. Preston had emigrated from Ireland in 1773 and worked as assistant surveyor under his relative William Preston, who laid out vast areas of western . . . — — Map (db m210159) HM
Near Winston Alley at Piedmont Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
In December 1946, WCYB radio went on the air with a clear, high powered signal that could be heard for 100 miles away, or more, from Bristol. From the very launch of the station, one of its signature programs was the noon time show - "Farm and Fun . . . — — Map (db m258050) HM
On Lee Street north of Cumberland Street ( Route 113), on the left when traveling north.
Since World War I, more than 92,000 American soldiers are unaccounted for.
This unoccupied seat is dedicated to the memory of those brave men and women and to the sacrifices each made in serving this country.
God Bless You. God Bless . . . — — Map (db m304886) WM
