Buford's Gap facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buford's Gap |
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|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,240 ft (378 m) |
| Traversed by |  U.S. Highway 460 |
| Location | Bedford County, Virginia, United States |
| Range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Coordinates | 37°23′37″N 79°46′53″W / 37.3936°N 79.7814°W |
Buford's Gap is a special kind of valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Bedford County, Virginia. It's called a "wind gap" because it was likely formed by a river that has since changed its course.
This gap was once a very important path. It was the first way for trains, like the Norfolk and Western Railway, to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains. Buford's Gap was also the site of a battle in 1864 during the American Civil War. Today, U.S. Route 460 also passes through this historic gap.
A Look Back in Time
Long, long ago, Native American tribes lived near Buford's Gap. The Cherokee people had a home near the Peaks of Otter, which are close by.
An important trail went right through Buford's Gap. This trail roughly followed the path of today's highway to Roanoke, Virginia. People have found old tools and arrowheads in the area. These findings show that tribes used to travel through the gap. They might have gone to places like Tennessee or North Carolina using trails like the Carolina Road.
Traveling Through the Gap
Buford's Gap has always been important for travel. In the 1800s, a special road called the Buford's Gap and Buchanan Turnpike was built. A "turnpike" was a road where you paid a fee to use it. This turnpike was started in 1851 and finished in 1855.
A man named Paschal Buford was the president and main owner of this turnpike. Paschal Buford (born February 14, 1791, died 1875) was a busy person. He bought and sold land, farmed, and even helped build churches. He also ran mills and delivered mail to Botetourt County, Virginia. In 1822, he built a large brick house called Locust Level.
