Booker T. Washington National Monument facts for kids
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Booker T. Washington National Monument
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Bust of Booker T. Washington by James Barnhill, Booker T. Washington National Monument
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Franklin County, Virginia, United States |
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| Nearest city | Rocky Mount, Virginia |
| Area | 198.8 acres (80.5 ha) |
| Built | 1956 |
| Visitation | 24,361 (2012) |
| Website | Booker T. Washington National Monument |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000834 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NMON | April 2, 1956 |
The Booker T. Washington National Monument is a special place in Franklin County, Virginia. It's a National Monument that protects parts of a 207-acre farm. This farm is where a very important educator and leader, Booker T. Washington, was born. He was born into slavery on April 5, 1856.
The monument helps visitors learn about Booker T. Washington's life and his amazing achievements. You can also learn about farming and life during the 1850s. The site shows what life was like back then using old buildings, gardens, crafts, and even farm animals.
Contents
Learning About Booker T. Washington
This monument helps us remember Booker T. Washington. He was a key leader who worked hard to improve education for African Americans. He believed that education and hard work were the keys to success.
Booker T. Washington's Early Life
Booker T. Washington was born on this farm in Virginia. He was born into slavery, which meant he was not free. After slavery ended, he worked very hard to get an education. He later became a famous teacher and speaker.
The Special Coin That Helped
To help buy the land for this monument, a special coin was made. It was called the Booker T. Washington Memorial half dollar. This coin was very important because it was the first U.S. coin to feature an African American person.
The coins were made from 1946 to 1951. Over 1.5 million of these coins were sold, mostly to people who collected them. The money from selling these coins helped to buy the land for the monument.
Recognizing the Monument
The Booker T. Washington National Monument was officially recognized in 1956. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. This means it is a very important historical site in the United States.
See also
