Hillsville: Historic District and Walking Tours

If you’re considering Hillsville as a travel destination, its historic district and the history of Carroll County offer concrete points of reference for your stay. The Hillsville Historic District includes 16 notable buildings that make up the historic central block of Carroll County’s county seat. The courthouse, museum, and walking tour options offer different ways to explore the area.

Historic District and Courthouse

The Carroll County Courthouse stands in the historic district. Col. Ira B. Coltrane designed and built it in 1870–75. Its features include an arcade level, a Doric portico, Italianate brackets on the gable, and an octagonal cupola. The architectural elements can be considered individually: an arcade is characterized by arches, while a portico is a columned porch. The brackets on the gable and the cupola, a distinctive roof form, complete the design. The courthouse thus combines several distinct architectural details in a building that is also part of the history of the county seat.

Museum in the Historic Courthouse

The Carroll County Historical Society and Museum is located in the 1873 courthouse at 515 North Main Street in Hillsville. It presents the history of Carroll County and displays Native American artifacts as well as an extensive collection related to the American Civil War. Exhibits also include portrait photographs, newspaper accounts, and a diorama of the 1912 courtroom scene. Objects, visual and press records, and the courtroom scene on display offer different points of entry for exploring the county’s history. Individual exhibits may change. If you’re planning a museum visit, check the current visitor information before your trip.

Guided and Self-Guided Walking Tours

Tours of the Carroll County Courthouse are available; advance reservations are requested. The museum also provides a brochure for a self-guided walking tour of Hillsville. Another option is the Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home in the historic district, which also offers tours. You can choose between a guided tour of the courthouse or the home and a walking tour that uses the museum brochure as a visitor resource. If you’re taking a courthouse tour, keep the requested reservation in mind and check visitor information in advance.

Market, Music Trail, and Getting There

The Town of Hillsville Farmers Market is a seasonal market behind the historic Hale Wilkinson Carter Home at 540 Pine Street. If you’re including a visit to the market in your travel plans, check seasonal operating details in advance. This helps you plan this activity around its season.

Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road is also part of the town’s character: the route runs through the Town of Hillsville. This is a different point of interest from the historic buildings in the central block and adds another cultural dimension to the destination. Hillsville is also connected via Interstate 77—a useful reference point when planning your arrival. When choosing where to stay, you can take into account the town’s different visitor attractions and its access to the interstate.

Discover more destinations: Fancy Gap, Cana.

For the broader travel overview: Carroll County.