From Big Lick to Roanoke: The Making of a Railroad City

Most people know Roanoke began as Big Lick. Few realize how dramatically the landscape changed after the railroad arrived. Long before downtown Roanoke was filled with office buildings, hotels, and busy streets, the area was a small farming community known as Big Lick. The arrival of the Norfolk & Western Railway in the 1880s transformed that rural village into one of the fastest-growing cities in the South, forever changing the landscape and setting the stage for modern Roanoke. Join the Historical Society of Western Virginia for a guided walking tour exploring the city's remarkable evolution from village to railroad boomtown. Using historic photographs, maps, and research from the Historical Society's collections, participants will discover how dramatically downtown has changed over the last 150 years. Along the way, you'll uncover buried streams, forgotten landmarks, vanished theaters, former railroad facilities, lost civic buildings, and the people whose vision helped shape the city. Led by historian Kelly Robertson, this 90-minute tour traces the story of Roanoke's growth through the places where that history unfolded. By comparing historic images with the modern streetscape, participants will gain a new appreciation for both what has survived and what has been lost. The tour covers approximately 1.3 miles through downtown Roanoke. Admission is $15 (30% off for HSWV members) . Registration required; register at square.link/u/dZqvIoWf.