As a woman who often travels solo, I love finding stories of women who broke the barriers of their time and scored big in fields once limited to men. I hit the jackpot in Wytheville, Virginia.
At the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace, I learned about a woman who served as acting President of the United States. The Haller-Gibboney Rock House showed me that Dr. John Haller’s female descendants excelled in male-dominated fields.
Here are the highlights of these women.
I was hosted when I visited Wytheville, but opinions are my own.
Edith Bolling Wilson
Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum
Collection of late 1800s furniture at Edith Bolling Wilson’s birthplace Museum. Photo credit: Kathleen Walls
Edith Bolling Wilson, born in Appalachia, was President Wilson’s second wife. Historians believe she acted as President after Wilson’s stroke, advising him on congressional activities. She changed history as the first First Lady to attend an official event abroad when she attended the Paris Peace Conference in 1918 and 1919.
During a visit to her birthplace, I met Betsy Ely, who reenacted Edith. Touring her home and childhood play areas revealed insights into her character. She recognized the importance of being frugal, so important during WWII.
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Bolling Wilson Hotel
During the war, Edith Bolling Wilson replaced lawn workers with sheep, raising $100,000 for the American Red Cross through wool sales. Visit the Bolling Wilson Hotel to see the sheep statues on the lawn, while also enjoying comfortable rooms, a dining room, and a bar.
The Haller Women
The Haller-Gibboney Rock House
Haller-Gibboney Rock House honors Dr. Haller, Wytheville’s first doctor, but the stories of his female descendants stand out as well. During the Civil War Battle of Wytheville, his daughter Catherine and a servant saved the home by throwing out a burning mattress. She later started a boarding school in the house.
Granddaughter Frances Gibboney became a photographer, woodworker, and taxidermist. Great-granddaughter Kathleen Ray Campbell joined the Army, became an occupational therapist, and sold the Rock House to Wytheville, stipulating it must be used as a museum.
Thomas J. Boyd Museum
The Boyd Museum, named after Thomas Jefferson Boyd, highlights local history, including the 1950 polio epidemic called the “Summer Without Children.” In 1950, Wytheville had the highest polio rate per capita in the U.S.
The museum also provides information on the Haller women. The Haller Women’s Exhibit displays Kate Haller’s invitation to President Buchanan’s inauguration. There’s the first photo of a presidential inauguration.
Tip: Allow at least 30 minutes for the self-guided tour of the museum.
Art in Wytheville
Wytheville showcases public art.
- Artist Andrew Williams’s “Edith Bolling Wilson Timeline” mural stretches ninety feet along Heritage Walk, illustrating eight pivotal moments in her life.
- Jen Otey, a local artist, created “Transformation” for the Open Door Community, incorporating feathers and an Emily Dickinson poem.
- Visitors find selfie opportunities with Virginia’s LOVEwork pieces at Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, in Downtown Wytheville and at Big Walker Lookout.
Modern-Day Wonder Women in Wytheville
Wytheville fosters resilient women.
Heather Kime and her dog in the shop at Big Walker Lookout. Photo credit: Kathleen Walls
- Heather Kime maintains a family legacy at Big Walker Lookout, Virginia’s oldest privately-owned scenic attraction. Her country store features Appalachian crafts, ice cream, and light dining.
- Ellen Reynolds, at Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, operates southwest Virginia’s premier lavender farm. She manages the Flying Flowers Butterfly House, tagging Monarchs for tracking. She demonstrates the gentle art of butterfly capture.
- Patti Pizinger realized her bed-and-breakfast dream at Trinkle Mansion. Her lavish breakfasts, including a Benedict Bundle and almond poppyseed muffin, pamper guests.
- Patricia Austin, encountered at the Wytheville Training School Cultural Center, lived the history exhibited. The center, a former school for Black students, documents “separate and unequal” education. Austin rode the bus to an integrated school after segregation ended.
- Theresa Campbell, owner of Pedals Wine Bar, expanded her floral shop into a wine bar. She serves light lunches and fine wines, including a fruity Avive Natural Peach Sparkling Wine.
Dining in Wytheville
You’ll find a restaurant for any taste in Wytheville.
- Log House 1776 Restaurant
- C. J’s Pizza
- Peaking Restaurant
- Grayson Restaurant
- Seven Sisters Brewery
- 7 Dogs Brew Pub
- West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery
- Skeeter’s
- Graze on Main
- Moon Dog Brick Oven
Places to Stay
Besides Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast and Bolling Wilson Hotel, some other lodging options offer intriguing choices.
- The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation restored the historic Inn at Foster Falls, built in 1887, to a 10-room boutique hotel blending history with modern comforts.
- Don’t be fooled by “campground.” Besides RV and tent sites, you can stay in cabins ranging from basic to deluxe at Wytheville KOA Holiday Campground For a unique experience with modern comforts, try their Conestoga wagons with a private bathhouse and fire pit.
Other Things to Do in Wytheville
Besides its remarkable women, past and present, Wytheville had many other amazing attractions.
- Fort Chiswell Animal Park, the largest zoo in Southwest Virginia, offers a drive-through safari park with over 200 animals from six continents on a 45-acre setting just waiting for you to feed them.
- Jackson/ Umberger Homestead Museum takes you back to Wytheville’s earliest days on its nine-acre living history museum.
- Cobb Alpaca Farm has dozens of cute alpacas waiting for you to pet them.
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