At various times throughout history, Lynchburg ranked as one of the wealthiest communities per capita in the nation sparking a building boom of architectural marvels with handsome residential and commercial buildings in a wide variety of styles.
Start your day early with a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, his personal retreat. While President, Jefferson realized his days of privacy were about to end, so he began construction of a private sanctuary on land he had inherited from his wife’s family. The result was an extraordinary octagonal house that is considered one of his greatest architectural achievements.
Before heading downtown for lunch, stop in the iconic Lynchburg Museum, housed in the historic Greek Revival style Old Courthouse built in 1855. This handsome building tells that story of the Lynchburg area’s rich cultural heritage.
With food for thought, head down another of Lynchburg architectural wonders, Monument Terrace, on your way to lunch at one of Lynchburg’s many tantalizing restaurants.
After a satisfying repast, take the tour of Point of Honor. This extraordinary Federal style mansion was built in the early 19th century by Dr. George Cabell, a close friend of Thomas Jefferson and personal physician to Patrick Henry.
To round out a perfect day, stop in the Lynchburg Visitor Center to pick up the Architectural Walking Tour brochure of downtown and the surrounding historic districts. Along the tour, no one will blame you if you stop in a shop or two for that special something to take home as a souvenir of your trip!
Before heading back to your room, enjoy dinner at one of Lynchburg’s many fine restaurants.