Exploring Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail

Take in a concert or explore mountain music history at the museum at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, Va. Danita Delimont/Shutterstock

The Heritage Music Trail in southwest Virginia is a truly unique tourist experience. Spanning 330 miles, the regional destination is a one-of-a-kind trip coined “The Crooked Road.”

Beginning in 2003, state officials put together a plan to properly document the driving route known as “The Homeplace of America’s Music.” The undertaking took years to develop. Now, markers line the scenic stretch of highway, signaling travelers to stop off at many different locations. These stops include museums, live music venues, and shops, all honoring Virginia’s vital role in the creation of American traditional music.

The expansive and unique Heritage Music Trail is perfect for music lovers, history buffs, and vacationers interested in an off-the-beaten-path experience.

The Blue Ridge Highlands

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and (L) The Bristol Hotel, in Bristol, which straddles the Virginia–Tennessee state line. Nolichuckyjake/Shutterstock

The Crooked Road started as a way to honor Virginia’s rich musical history. The state has produced some of the most beloved icons in bluegrass and country music. Since the Heritage Music Trail’s inception at the start of 2003, support for it has steadily grown. Today, the cultural endeavor spans 19 counties and 54 towns.

When traveling The Crooked Road, it’s best to start in the Blue Ridge Highlands region. Bristol, a bustling small town straddling the Virginia–Tennessee state line with deep ties to country music’s first stars, such as The Carter Family, is an integral part of the extensive, self-guided tour.

Spend a day at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, browse vintage recording equipment used for the legendary Bristol Recording Sessions, and immerse yourself in various Smithsonian exhibits.

Make a pit stop at the Floyd Country Store, a must-see destination along the trail. The legendary venue is home to some of Appalachian music’s most talented in-house musicians, cloggers, and dancers, who keep the tradition of bluegrass music alive and well with performances and jam sessions such as its “Friday Night Jamboree.”

The Heart of Appalachia

"Morning in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia," circa 1858, by William Louis Sonntag. New York Historical Society. Public Domain

After spending a couple of days in Bristol’s vibrant district and its buzzing surrounding areas, travelers can make their way toward the southwestern-most region of Virginia, known as the “Heart of Appalachia.” While Bristol is known for its quaint, vibrant charm, towns in the Appalachian region are known for boundless terrain and breathtaking natural landscapes.

Many of the bluegrass genre’s earliest recordings were actually done outside, with the Appalachian Mountains in the background as fiddlers and banjo players recorded their first tunes.

Keeping the spark of unbridled mountain music alive is the Carter Family Fold, an intimate live music venue found in the rustic town of Hiltons, Virginia. Each Saturday night, concert-goers are treated to a live show commemorating the memory of The Carter Family, and band leader A.P. Carter’s instrumental role in the growth of country music.

After taking in the beautiful views of the mighty Clinch River running through both Virginia’s robust landscape and its Heritage Music Trail, motorists can head on over to the peaceful small town of Clintwood, Virginia, to visit another attraction, the Ralph Stanley Museum.

Ralph Stanley on the banjo at the 2011 Watermelon Park Festival in Berryville, Va. Reed George/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED

Known as a visionary banjo player and pioneer of post-World War II bluegrass music, Ralph Stanley was such an important part of the bluegrass genre’s international growth that he was ultimately given an honorary doctorate of music by Lincoln Memorial University. His extensive collection of music memorabilia, along with exhibits and many of his own instruments, are on display at the four-story museum.

The building itself is a sight to behold. Although it has been updated, it’s recognized as a historic house, with much of its Victorian-style architecture untouched.

The Birthplace of American Music

The winding, lazy roadway spanning hundreds of miles is dotted with markers and signs to keep Heritage Music Trail visitors on track. From music festivals that take place year-round to luthier and fiddle-maker shops, there are endless sights and experiences with a little something for everyone to appreciate.

While the trail celebrates the United States’ distinctive musical history and the traditional musical roots of Virginia, Heritage Music Trail staff members have also embraced technology when helpful to tourists. Virtual exhibits can be found along The Crooked Road. There are 26 of these “Wayside Exhibits”—located in various spots—featuring audio recordings of tour guides that travelers can tune into with their car radios for entertaining stories about local legends.

The road found along Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail connects the Blue Ridge Highlands region to the Heart of Appalachia, two of American music’s most historic areas. When you travel The Crooked Road, you realize that the languid stretch of scenic highway connects so much more than territory. The Crooked Road’s mission eloquently captures the importance of this unparalleled regional destination. It’s “where America’s music was born.” And thanks to everyone involved with the Heritage Music Trail, it’s where America’s music “lives on!”