Carroll County: History, Music and River Landscapes

Carroll County can be explored through a range of themes: historic places around Hillsville, the musical traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and waterways and protected habitats. These different areas of interest can help you plan your trip according to your interests—whether you are especially interested in architecture and history, want to experience music, or want to take in the landscape along the water.

Courthouse, Museum and Historic Homes

The Carroll County Courthouse combines an arcaded façade with a temple-form portico façade and side wings. It is also associated with a watershed event in local history: on March 14, 1912, the courthouse was the site of the Hillsville Massacre, in which five people were killed. Its architecture and the history of the event offer two distinct ways to understand this place.

The Carroll County Historical Society and Museum is located in the historic 1873 Carroll County Courthouse at 515 North Main Street in Hillsville, Virginia. The museum presents the history of Carroll County and its various communities. The historic building’s construction date and the 1912 event mark distinct chapters in its history.

The Hillsville Historic District also offers a distinct perspective on the town’s historic character. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it covers about 50 acres and consists of 14 buildings and one object. The district includes the Hillsville Diner, considered the oldest continuously operating streetcar diner in the state of Virginia.

Further historic connections extend beyond Hillsville. Puckett Cabin is located along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 189.9 and is associated with Orlean Puckett, a local midwife who successfully delivered 1,000 babies. The Sidna Allen House offers a different architectural accent: it is a Queen Anne-style residence and was, for a time, Sidna Allen’s home in Carroll County.

Musical Traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains

The Blue Ridge Music Center preserves, shares and presents the evolving musical traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its programming brings together the passing on of musical traditions and their continued development. Visitors who want to plan their trip around live music may also be interested in the Roots of American Music concert series: concerts take place on most Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Check the current events calendar before making specific plans, as the program is seasonal.

River Landscapes and Protected Waters

The East Fork of Crooked Creek in Carroll County provides habitat for trout and the Kanawha darter within the Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area. Many trout streams elsewhere in the county are also in protected water areas. These include Stewarts Creek Wildlife Management Area and Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area. Alongside the habitat on the East Fork, these protected areas are another part of the region’s waterways.

Another focus on the water is the Fries to Byllesby New River Canoe Route. Nearly seven miles of the New River run through northwestern Carroll County along the route. It uses a public boat launch at Fries Town Park or New River Trail State Park. The two themes offer different points of interest: Crooked Creek represents habitats in protected waters, while the route follows the course of the New River.

Then search for accommodation based on which location best suits your travel plans.

Explore more destinations: Fancy Gap, Hillsville, Cana, Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Albemarle, Richmond City, Frederick County

Go to the main travel overview: Virginia.