This story first ran in the Bristol Herald Courier on March 2, 2008.
ABINGDON, Va. – Abingdon turns 230 years old this year, one of a few milestone birthdays in the historic town in 2008.
The Barter Theatre, the State Theatre of Virginia and one of the town’s biggest attractions, is celebrating its 75th year, and the Highlands Festival, one of the region’s most popular annual events, marks its 60th year this summer.
"We’re gonna do some big celebrating this year – all year long," said Myra Cook, head of tourism in Abingdon.
But it’s not just the birthdays that make the quaint, handsome town noteworthy; it’s the endless list of attractions provided by its more than two-century history.
"Most people think the Barter is the biggest attraction in town. We can count the number of people who go there, but we can’t count the number of people who come for other attractions," Cook said.
Abingdon has become an ideal location for folks looking to take a few days off and travel back to a simpler time, Cook said. Folks have endless opportunities to marvel in the past, from the Creeper Trail, a bike trail constructed over the tracks of an old railroad line, to the 20-block historical walk that takes visitors down old streets and to the Tavern, a restaurant where owner Max Hermann serves a variety of dishes in the oldest building in town, built in 1779.
"Abingdon is so well rounded," Cook said. "There is a lot, and people today aren’t like they were years ago. People want to shop, then ride the Creeper Trail, have a good dinner and go to the Barter, plus have a nice place to stay."
For historical accommodations, folks can stay in the Martha Washington Inn and Spa, a 62-room historic inn on Main Street, or they can opt for one of the dozens of smaller bed-and-breakfast inns, such as Tailor’s Lodging, where guests can stay in an old cottage that used to be a tailor’s workshop, Cook said.
The William King Regional Arts Center, originally a schoolhouse built in 1913, is a big draw for art appreciators because of its revolving art exhibitions and studio artists who work in it throughout the day.
"You never now what is going to be there," Cook said.
And for railroad enthusiasts, the Old Train Depot is a virtual museum of regional history, with its O. Winston Link photography exhibit featuring shots of the old steam engine that chugged through Abingdon regularly on the route now known as the Creeper Trail.
Cook said each year the town works to honor its history and create events that showcase its many years.
"It’s magical, you feel like you’re in old times when you’re here," she said.
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