Landscapes

Collection of Photographs and Sketches to Help Us Understand How Blacksburg Changed Over Time

1958 Aerial of Virginia Tech Campus and the Town of Blacksburg, from South West to North East Orientation

Blacksburg and VT Landscapes

Lewis Miller’s 1853 Sketch (Courtesy of Montgomery Museum of Art and History)
1935 View From William Garnett’s Publication
War Memorial built in 1926 on John Black’s Farm, VPI/town water tower located close to Cassell Coliseum
New Town with Ed Marsh’s Notations
Virginia Tech Campus Plan Rendering shown in the 1926-27 General Report
1937 Aerial of VPI Campus
Actually 1937 Aerial
1937 Aerial of Blacksburg
Western View of VPI Campus Postcard
APVA Aerial 1945, Smithfield House, top left and Drill Field bottom, right.
Aerial from the 1960’s (courtesy of the Blacksburg Museum) Note the train station at the top left, and the high & elementary school on Draper Road at the top right.
1970s Campus View (courtesy Montgomery Museum of Art & History)

Helpful Hints on How to Date Images and Maps in Blacksburg

  • Virginia Tech Identifying Changes to Campus and Roads
    • Olin Preston School opened in 1851 and named changed to Preston Olin in 1869. Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC) opened 1872.
    • The distinctive pagoda style Ag Experiment Station “Bug House” was built in 1888 and removed in 1936 in order to build Burrus Hall
    • YMCA Building was built 1899
    • VAMC/Old Shops building burned in 1913
    • Chapel/Auditorium was built 1905 on the site of the Newman Library. In 1914 it became the library. In 1953 it burned and the Newman Library was built afterwards. The library half-moon addition was completed in 1980.
    • War Memorial and Mall proposed in 1946 and finished in 1951.
    • Strouble Creek which runs through the town and the south end of the drill field on campus, was directed into covered culverts in 1934. The Duck Pond, which is fed by Stroubles Creek, was constructed that year. It is the larger of the two ponds, the smaller was built as an ice pond in 1880.
    • War Memorial Chapel erected 1960
    • History of Athletic Structures
      • War Memorial Gym was built in 1926 on John Black’s farm
      • Gibboney Field was built on what we call the drill field in 1909.
      • Miles Stadium was built behind the War Memorial Gym in 1926 to 1964.
      • Cassell Coliseum was built between 1960 and 1964
    • Campus Maps from 1908 to 1974
    • History of the Campus Roads
    • Campus Entrance from Main Street
      • Alumni Gate was finished in time for the 1913-14 school session with its distinctive metal-work arch.
      • Arch was removed 1927
      • Gate was removed in 1936 and Main Street widened and aligned (odd jog to the right was no longer the thoroughfare.)
    • The distinctive water tower, known as the Tank, was built in 1896 and removed by 1957.
  • Blacksburg Railroad
    • 1st station was built 1903
    • 2nd station was built 1912
    • Last freight train ran 1966
  • Schools in Blacksburg
    • High Schools
      • The high school that is at the corner of Roanoke and Otey Street was constructed in 1916 ( VT Architecture Annex in 1965)
      • The high school moved to South Main Street in 1952 and then to Patrick Henry Ave in 1974
    • The Elementary School was built at the corner of Draper (Water St) and Roanoke Streets in 1934 ( VT Media Building in 1965)
  • The airport, south of Blacksburg and at the time in the county, began in 1929 as a 1,800 foot grass-strip and in 1931 it was permitted to operate as an airport. Scroll 3/4 way down this page for information.