Big Stone Gap

Big Stone Gap is a Virginia historical marker in Big Stone Gap, Wise County, dedicated 1941.

Business Rte. 23, Big Stone Gap

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Big Stone Gap, originally known as Three Forks, received its charter, February 23, 1888. A postoffice was established April 12, 1856. In the early nineties it became the center of iron and coal development. It was the home and workshop of John Fox, Jr., novelist, and author of "Trail of the Lonesome Pine."

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1844 · Kentucky (H. S. Tanner, 1844) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1846 · Virginia (H. S. Tanner, 1846) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1859 · Virginia (Herman Boye, 1859) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1862 · Johnson's Kentucky & Tennessee (1862) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1894 · Estillville, Kentucky (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

Johnson's Kentucky & Tennessee (1862), 1862, covering the location of Big Stone Gap, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Johnson's Kentucky & Tennessee (1862), 1862, covering this location. Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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What that marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years there.

From one family's 77-marker roster

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The marker isn't at this spotOur pin may be off. If you know where it stands, tell us.I couldn't find the markerWe record what the source recorded. We have not been to look.The sign reads differentlyThat would be an error, and we can pass it to the program.The historical map looks wrongThe period map behind the pin, not the marker itself.Something else

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Marker program managed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

More markers nearby

Origins of Big Stone Gapunder 1 mi
Carl Martin--Early Musical Pioneerunder 1 mi
Southwest Virginia Museumunder 1 mi
James A. Bland High Schoolunder 1 mi