Booker T. Washington National Monument

The Booker T. Washington National Monument is a National Monument near Hardy, Franklin County, Virginia.[4] It preserves portions of the 207-acre (0.90 km²) tobacco farm on which educator and leader Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856. It provides interpretation of Washington's life and achievements, as well as interpretation of 1850s slavery and farming through the use of buildings, gardens, crafts and animals.

Booker T. Washington National Monument
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
U.S. National Monument
Virginia Landmarks Register
Bust of Booker T. Washington by James Barnhill, Booker T. Washington National Monument
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Location	Franklin County, Virginia, United States
Nearest city	Rocky Mount, Virginia
Coordinates	37°7′24″N 79°45′57″W
Area	198.8 acres (80.5 ha)
Built	1956
Visitation	24,361 (2012[1])
Website	Booker T. Washington National Monument
NRHP reference No.	66000834
VLR No.	033-0001
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966[2]
Designated NMON	April 2, 1956
Designated VLR	January 16, 1973[3]

Congress authorized the Booker T. Washington Memorial half dollar to fund the purchase of the site.[5] This commemorative half dollar was the first US coin to feature an African American, and was minted from 1946 to 1951 at three different mints. 18 varieties of the coin were produced, and more than 1.5 million were sold (primarily to collectors). Yet, after the coin's production was finished, the BTW Commission owed more money than it had assets, and the Commonwealth of Virginia had to step in to provide funds to purchase the site.

The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966[2] and designated a National Monument on April 2, 1956.[6]