ROOTED HERE
The history of Roanoke
Roanoke is an independent city along the Roanoke River in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Downtown, the Grandin area, Mill Mountain and the Taubman Museum offer distinct ways to begin a visit.
People who shaped Roanoke
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Eye on the Past - Roanoke Incline
Blue Ridge PBS revisits the short-lived Roanoke Incline in this Eye on the Past segment.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1801–1834
Communities before Roanoke
Antwerp, Gainesborough and Old Lick developed in the early nineteenth century within what is now the city. Gainesborough survives in the name of today's Gainsboro neighborhood.
City of Roanoke ↗ - 1874
The Town of Big Lick
Big Lick received a town charter. Its name referred to local salt marshes that attracted animals, and the small community stood beside an important railroad route.
City of Roanoke ↗ - 1882
A junction changes the town
The Shenandoah Valley Railroad met the Norfolk and Western here, beginning a period of rapid growth. The town took the Roanoke name in the same year.
City of Roanoke ↗ - 1884
Roanoke becomes a city
The growing railroad town became the City of Roanoke. Its rise changed the valley's balance of activity as railway employment and connected commerce expanded.
City of Roanoke ↗
See the history for yourself.
Check current opening hours and visitor information before you go: local cultural and visitor information.
For local services and public information, the local government website is a starting point. For historical research, consult local libraries, archives and museums and check collection-specific image permissions.
Selected milestones from the linked historical sources. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.