Farmville: High Bridge, Blueway, and History

Farmville brings together a range of travel interests: the history of education, historic buildings, and activities on land and water. The destinations below differ in whether you’re looking for a self-guided tour, a museum, a route for hiking or cycling, or a waterway corridor for canoes and kayaks.

History and Historic Buildings

The Farmville Historic District preserves a collection of historic buildings across its commercial, residential, and industrial sections. The Historic Downtown Farmville Walking Tour is a self-guided tour through the Historic District. The Appomattox River Warehouses offer a separate architectural point of interest: they are brick buildings on the riverbank, built in 1899. This distinguishes the district’s broader setting from the specific date associated with these buildings.

Civil Rights History and Art

The R. R. Moton Museum is a center for the study of civil rights in education. It is a designated stop on the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. For travelers interested in civil rights history in education, this focus clearly sets the museum apart from the architecture of the Historic District. Admission to the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) is free for everyone; check current visitor information before your trip.

Trails on Land

High Bridge is 2,422 feet long and rises 125 feet above the Appomattox River. Length and height describe two different dimensions of the structure: the first indicates its span, while the second gives its elevation above the river. For a different, activity-focused option, High Bridge Trail State Park offers 31 miles for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. These three activities give you concrete points of comparison when planning: the key choice is whether you prefer to travel on foot, by bike, or on horseback.

Out on the Water

The Farmville Blueway Paddle Trail is a protected waterway corridor maintained for recreational canoeing and kayaking. The route is four miles long; it begins at the eastern end of Wilck’s Lake and ends at Riverside Park. The four-mile distance and named endpoints describe the water route precisely; by contrast, High Bridge Trail State Park focuses on choosing between hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. A short portage connects Wilck’s Lake with Buffalo Creek; here, the boat is carried a short distance between the bodies of water.

Wilck’s Lake Play Area

Wilck’s Lake Play Area includes a large grassy area, picnic tables, and a skate park; the playground itself is currently closed. Keep the closure in mind if you plan to visit this area.

For a broader travel overview: Prince Edward County.