The National Trust for Historic Preservation put The Crooked Road: Virginia's Musical Heritage Trail on the national map yesterday, naming it one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010.
The Crooked Road, a 300-mile route through the mountains of Southwest Virginia that connects 19 towns and numerous musical stops, was selected for blending eco-tourism and small-town charm with the region's musical heritage.
"The Crooked Road pays homage to a rich Appalachian heritage," Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said in a statement. "The trail weaves together unique historic districts that share a past steeped in a rare and uniquely American music culture."
As part of its selection, The Crooked Road will be part of a public, online voting contest for the rest of February that will determine which of the dozen destinations is the overall "fan favorite."
The other destinations on the list are Cedar Falls, Iowa; St. Louis; Marquette, Mich.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Provincetown, Mass.; Simsbury, Conn.; Rockland, Maine; Chestnut Hill, Pa.; Huntsville, Ala.; Bastrop, Texas; and Sitka, Alaska.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation annually selects communities across America that offer cultural and recreational experiences that reveal "a commitment to historic preservation . . . and a richness of character," as well as "an authentic sense of place."
The Crooked Road stretches from Rocky Mount west to Breaks Interstate Park, which straddles the Virginia-Kentucky border. Along the way, the state-designated route includes a series of musical venues such as Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, and Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Music Center in Clintwood.
Bill Lohmann is a staff writer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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