Driving Tour of White Sulphur Springs

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The Greenbrier Resort dates back to the late 18th century, when visitors to the area would "take the waters" of the local spring that contained minerals believed to restore health. In the years leading up to the Civil War, the resort was a gathering place for Southern politicians and hosted five sitting U.S. Presidents and influential families.

2. Old White Golf Course

Now home to the PGA's Greenbrier Classic, Old White is one of the oldest golf courses in the nation. Charles Blair Macdonal designed and opened the course in 1914. In 2010 the course was added to the PGA Tour, replacing the Buick Open in Flint, Michigan. The tournament is played in July each year and has a concert series that is put on each night by the Greenbrier Resort.

3. The Greenbrier Bunker

Hidden in the rolling hills of West Virginia, the United States Congress built a secret nuclear bunker within the nationally acclaimed Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. In light of the Cold War, Congress moved to build this extensive bunker where they could be protected from a nuclear disaster. After the war, pressure from the media led to the location of the bunker to be revealed. The resort has since opened the bunker for tours.

4. Katherine Coleman Johnson Way

On May 26, 2017, the city of White Sulphur Springs declared this previously unnamed street in honor of NASA mathematician Katherine Coleman Johnson. Now known as "Katherine Coleman Johnson Way," this street the leads to the city library honors the life of the mathematician from White Sulphur Springs whose contributions to the American space program were highlighted in the movie "Hidden Figures." Katherine Coleman was born in White Sulphur Springs and demonstrated an incredible aptitude for math. Johnson quickly earned a degree in mathematics from West Virginia State University and became one of the first three African American graduate students to be admitted to West Virginia University in 1939. Her work for NASA in the 1950s played a critical role in the calculations needed to place spacecraft into orbit, and later, on the Moon. Johnson was awarded many honors for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2016, the film "Hidden Figures" detailed her contributions to NASA.

5. Brooks' Lodgings (circa 1954)

This location/address (138 Church Street) was listed as an inn for African American travelers in the 1954 Negro Motorist Green Book, a travelers guide that was essential due to racial discrimination. The book was shared among members in the Black community informing them of remaining segregated businesses and towns; however, the book itself was an empowering tool for the Black community which enabled mobility and also provided safety for those traveling throughout the United States.

6. 1954 Protest Against Segregation at White Sulphur Springs Baptist Church

On September 14, 1954, West Virginia NAACP Charleston Branch President Willard A. Brown spoke to African Americans at the White Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, concerning the decision of the Greenbrier County Board of Education to maintain segregated schools.

7. Battle of White Sulphur Springs / Battle of Dry Creek

On August 26th, 1863, Union cavalry under the command of General William Woods Averell clashed with Confederate troops led by Colonel George S. Patton in Greenbrier County--only two months after West Virginia achieved statehood by “seceding” from Virginia. Its nascent statehood was, in fact, the cause of the battle, as Averell’s 1,300 men had been ordered to secure law books from the Virginia State Supreme Court in Rebel-held Lewisburg. The fierce fight that followed was, for its size, spectacularly bloody, and involved one of the few “classic” cavalry charges of the American Civil War, in the style of the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s. Now named for the nearby town of White Sulphur Springs, the battle has also been known by a multitude of other titles, including the Battle of Dry Creek, Howard Creek, Rocky Gap, and "The Battle of the Law Books."

8. Oakhurst Links Golf Course

In 1884, The Oakhurst Links Golf Course was designed and built, making it the oldest golf course in America. The nine hole course was used until 1912, when it reverted back to a pasture. In 1994, the course underwent a restoration and golf was being played once again on this historical site. In 2001, the course was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.

Driving Tour of White Sulphur Springs

Created by Clio Admin on October 17th 2018, 1:44:55 pm.

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Description

This tour of White Sulphur Springs begins with the Greenbrier Resort and its famous Old White Golf Course and the Cold War-era bunker located under the resort. The tour moves east to the include historical markers and landmarks within the community of White Sulphur Springs, including the recently-named street that honors NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson who was the subject of the book and Hollywood movie Hidden Figures. The tour concludes with the Oakhurst Links Golf Course which has been restored to match its 19th-century appearance complete with historic clothing and equipment for golfers.

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Driving Tour of White Sulphur Springs

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