“History isn’t just something you learn about; it’s something you feel,” says Amanda Livingston, marketing manager for the Abingdon Virginia CVB.
And here, in this town in the Appalachian Valley, it is easy to feel history surrounding you. Abingdon was founded in 1778, just two years after the United States was formed, and its citizens’ passion for preservation has resulted in intact architecture spanning three centuries.
For an 18th century experience, groups can enjoy dinner at The Tavern (1779). Its Colonial-era architecture is immaculately preserved, and its menu features authentic German-American fare.
One of the town’s most popular attractions is another 18th-century site. The Abingdon Muster Grounds is home to a comprehensive Revolutionary War exhibit, showcasing backcountry Virginia and artifacts from the Battle of Kings Mountain.
A unique experience exclusive to groups is a living-history program in which the males portray the patriot militia and the females take on the roles of backcountry women. Their demonstrations include working with medicinal herbs, textiles and crafts, and cooking over an open fire.
Next, move on to the 19th century with a show at the Barter Theatre. (Its name comes from the Great Depression, when out-of-work actors bartered theater tickets for their supper—their slogan being “Hamlet for Ham.”)
Now the state theater of Virginia, the Barter is known for its Broadway-caliber shows. An exclusive feature for groups is a backstage tour, where they can learn how the building evolved from 19th-century opera house to town hall (complete with jail) to Depression-era theater and finally, today’s multi-million-dollar entertainment facility.
To bring your experience full circle to the present, embark on a walking or driving tour of downtown Abingdon, accompanied by a noted historian. That interpreter will recount Abingdon’s past as a frontier town and center of art and commerce. And you might even hear a ghost story or two.
For more information about Abingdon, go to visitabingdonvirginia.com or contact the CVB’s Monica Hall.
Top photo: The Tavern in Abingdon
Photo by: Jason Barnette