Booker T. Washington National Monument

Booker T. Washington National Monument
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
U.S. National Monument
Bust of Booker T. Washington, Booker T. Washington National Monument
Location:	Franklin County, Virginia, USA
Nearest city:	Rocky Mount, Virginia
Coordinates:	37°7′24″N 79°45′57″W
Area:	198.8 acres (80.5 ha)
Built:	1856
Visitation:	19,321 (2002)
Governing body:	National Park Service
NRHP Reference#:	66000834
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	October 15, 1966
Designated NMON:	April 2, 1956

The Booker T. Washington National Monument is a National Monument near Hardy, Franklin County, Virginia. It preserves portions of the 207-acre (0.90 km²) tobacco farm on which educator and leader Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856. It provides interpretation of Washington's life and achievements, as well as interpretation of 1850s slavery and farming through the use of buildings, gardens, crafts and animals.

Congress authorized a commemorative coin to fund the purchase of the site. This commemorative half dollar was the first US coin to feature an African American, and was minted from 1946 to 1951 at three different mints. 18 varieties of the coin were produced, and more than 1.5 million were sold (primarily to collectors). Yet, after the coin's production was finished, the BTW Commission owed more money than it had assets, and the Commonwealth of Virginia had to step in to provide funds to purchase the site.

The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and designated a National Monument on April 2, 1956.

External links

• Media related to Booker T. Washington National Monument at Wikimedia Commons
• Booker T. Washington National Monument
• Booker T. Washington Slave Cabin Commemorative Coin