Abingdon: The Heart of Southwestern Virginia
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September 30, 2026
The city of Abingdon in southwestern Virginia is a historic town with many buildings dating back to colonial times. It is a great town.
I split this walk-around into five parts: historic buildings from the 1700s; the Washington County Courthouse; buildings along Main Street; the Sinking Spring Cemetery; and the Barter Theatre area. I hope you have a chance to visit Abingdon and enjoy it.
Abingdon, Virginia, a town of 8,375, is a town in southwestern Virginia and the seat of Washington County. The area became known as Wolf Hill when colonial Americans first surveyed and settled it around 1750. Daniel Boone traveled through the area. The photographs below show some examples of original and restored colonial-era buildings in Abingdon. The top-right photo shows a monument to Daniel Boone. The middle-left photo shows “The Tavern,” established in 1779 as a waystation for travelers. The Tavern is now operated as an evenings-only restaurant, and reservations are suggested.
Just up Main Street from The Tavern, at the top of a hill, stands the Washington County Courthouse. This restored structure was built in 1869, just four years after the Civil War ended—an earlier building burned during the war. The courthouse features four white columns guarding the main entrance and a stained-glass window (middle photo on the right) memorializing World War I soldiers. An annex (bottom right photo) has recently been added next door to the old courthouse to accommodate the county’s growth.
Walking past the courthouse along Main Street, I found many higher-end gift shops or similar venues, interspersed with old and classic homes and churches. Some of the shade trees along the sidewalk may be as old as the buildings. Here are some examples:
Further down Main Street, I passed an old graveyard called Sinking Spring Cemetery. The historical sign (below) provides its history. Confederate General John Hunt Morgan is buried here. I was fascinated to see that the grounds have a section for the unknown Confederate dead.
My last stop along Main Street in Abingdon was the Barter Theatre. This theatre was built during the Great Depression and takes its name from its founding practice of allowing actors and performers to barter their work for farm goods during those difficult economic times. The building houses several stages, and something seems to be performed almost daily.
Just across the street from the theatre is the Martha Washington Inn. The hotel was built in 1832. It is a working hotel that offers accommodations for artists performing at the theatre, as well as visiting tourists and groups.
Click here for a list of all TimManBlog American County Seats Series posts.
The photos in this post were taken on September 3, 2024, and are copyrighted by Tim Seibel.
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