Collegiate Times

As the town of Blacksburg is in the midst of a facelift, the Blacksburg Museum is making efforts to preserve historic awareness through Sixteen Squares Walking Tours.

Blacksburg was originally laid out in a 16-square grid, which continues to exist to this day.  In 1798, William Black petitioned the Virginia legislature to form the Town of Blacksburg, which he named after himself.  

Black donated approximately 37 acres to the town and located his house within Blacksburg.  

The streets that Black created are still in existence and make up our current downtown area.     

Though the area has grown and evolved, it remains rich with history.

“The town wants to educate the wealth of history that we’re all walking and driving around in every day,” said Blacksburg Museum intern Alexander B. Rawles. The Blacksburg Museum has provided free tours on the original 16 squares since 1998.

“We were finding that when talking about our history that people who’ve lived here their whole lives were not aware of the history Blacksburg encompasses,” said Blacksburg museum administrator Terry Nicholson.

The town is also striving to spark interest and enthusiasm for its history by opening the St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, which features exhibits about the history of African Americans in Blacksburg, and presenting a lecture series at the Blacksburg Municipal Building several times a year.

Nicholson encourages citizens and visitors to explore the town’s history, and take the tour of Blacksburg’s original 16 squares.  “I promise you’ll learn something,” Nicholson said.

The tours begin at the Old Town Hall, located at the intersection of Church and Jackson streets, at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday this summer, lasting an hour each.

The last tour for the summer is on August 30.

A version of this article appeared in the Aug 11 issue of the Collegiate Times.