Discover Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg brings together a range of travel interests: the Rocktown Trails in Hillandale Park offer three difficulty levels, historic buildings and museums offer glimpses into city and regional history, and the market, cafés and public art add further highlights.

Activities and Visiting Hours

From early September through May, the John C. Wells Planetarium offers free public shows on Saturdays; they are not held during JMU breaks. School and community groups can visit the planetarium on weekdays with advance reservations. The public show and group visit therefore have different requirements: a seasonal Saturday offering or a weekday reservation. Since both the seasonal schedule and reservation arrangements may change, check the latest information in advance.

At Hillandale Park, the Rocktown Trails offer three difficulty levels for runners, walkers and cyclists, from beginner to advanced. You can consider both the activity and the challenge level: first decide whether you want to run, walk or cycle, then choose a trail based on your preferred difficulty.

From Wednesday to Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center offers guided tours of a 24-acre farm property. When planning your visit, take into account the guided-tour format as well as the stated days and hours.

City and Regional History

The Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District includes 164 historically significant buildings. They represent nearly every aspect of the city’s development from 1779 to 1955. This broad span of time makes the district a gateway to the city’s history that is not limited to a single era.

The Valley Turnpike Museum is located in the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center and explores the history of the road now known as US Route 11. The Valley Turnpike Company was founded in 1834 and built the road from Winchester to Staunton through the Shenandoah Valley. This connects the history of a transportation route with its present-day name and its origins as a historic road.

Harrisonburg is located within the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. The Civil War Orientation Center features a large map of the Shenandoah Valley showing the sites of the region’s major battles, a timeline of the Civil War in the Valley, and photos and quotes about Civil War sites and stories in the central Shenandoah Valley. The map and timeline provide spatial and chronological context, while the photos and quotes add an overview of sites and stories.

The JMU Mineral Museum has minerals from 39 countries and 24 U.S. states. The collection’s origins therefore span international borders as well as several states.

Local Culture and Public Art

The Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market offers seasonal local fruit and vegetables, artisan breads, baked goods, cheeses and prepared foods. The mix of vendors may vary by season. The market adds a culinary highlight, with a selection that can change with the seasons.

While the market brings together a range of foods, the Harrisonburg Coffee Trail invites you to explore locally owned cafés. Each has its own flavor and ambiance—another way to discover the different sides of the local café culture.

The Downtown Public Art Tour takes visitors through Harrisonburg’s Arts and Cultural District and includes public art such as murals, sculptures and LOVEworks signs. This named tour brings together several forms of public art and complements the city’s historical themes with an artistic focus.

Discover more destinations: Madison County, Goochland, Portsmouth, Pittsylvania County, Clarke County, Accomack County, Franklin County, Rappahannock County

For the main travel overview: Virginia.