Wise County

Wise County, highlighted in map of Virginia

One of the signature attractions in Wise County is the Trail of the Lonesone Pine outdoor drama. The show, based on the 1908 novel by John Fox Jr., opened in 1964. Nine shows were offered in August, and 800 people attended. Since then the show has been expanded to run in June-August. Local actors present shows at the June Tolliver Playhouse, which replaced a vegetable garden in 1964.1

the UVA-Wise campus is filled with modern buildings
the UVA-Wise campus is filled with modern buildings

advertising in the Town of Wise the presence of the UVA-Wise campus
advertising in the Town of Wise the presence of the UVA-Wise campus

advertising the 2018 Remore Area Medical clinic, with free health care, in Wise County
advertising the 2018 Remore Area Medical clinic, with free health care, in Wise County

Powell Valley Overlook on US 23 in Wise County
Powell Valley Overlook on US 23 in Wise County

school consolidation in Wise County is reflected in the high school's name
school consolidation in Wise County is reflected in the high school's name

downtown Big Stone Gap is primarily two-story buildings
downtown Big Stone Gap is primarily two-story buildings

commercial sector, Big Stone Gap
commercial sector, Big Stone Gap

Miners Park in Big Stone Gap was once the location of the Monte Vista Hotel
Miners Park in Big Stone Gap was once the location of the Monte Vista Hotel

the Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap
the Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap

H. W. Meador Coal Museum in Big Stone Gap
H. W. Meador Coal Museum in Big Stone Gap

Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap
Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap

at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, stones around the Ayers mansion honor famous people from the area
at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, stones around the Ayers mansion honor famous people from the area

red oak woodwork in the Ayers mansion, now the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap
red oak woodwork in the Ayers mansion, now the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap

a Norfolk and western Railroad caboose is parked at the end of the Powell River Trail in Appalachia
a Norfolk and western Railroad caboose is parked at the end of the Powell River Trail in Appalachia

Miners Memorial Park in the Town of Appalachia
Miners Memorial Park in the Town of Appalachia

Miners Memorial Park includes a fan used to clear methane from underground mines
Miners Memorial Park includes a fan used to clear methane from underground mines

Miners Memorial Park memorializes miners killed while working Miners Memorial Park memorializes miners killed while working
Miners Memorial Park memorializes miners killed while working


Source: Southwest Virginia

three railroads competed to haul coal and coke from Wise County in 1906, before the Clinchfield arrived in 1909
three railroads competed to haul coal and coke from Wise County in 1906, before the Clinchfield arrived in 1909
Source: Library of Congress, Post route map of the states of Virginia and West Virginia

City of Norton

Routing a Railroad Through Cumberland Gap to the Wise County Coal Fields

Town of Pound

Links

Wise County
Wise County streams

References

1. "Drama had modest start, big dreams," 55th Season Outdoor Drama 2018, p.10.

strip mining of coal has transformed the topography in parts of Wise County
strip mining of coal has transformed the topography in parts of Wise County
Source: ESRI, ArcGIS Online

the Town of Appalachia developed on Looney Creek when two railroads bypassed Big Stone Gap
the Town of Appalachia developed on Looney Creek when two railroads bypassed Big Stone Gap
(1896) Source: Library of Congress, Boones map of the Black Diamond System of Railways


Existing Virginia Counties
Virginia Places