The Ringgold Rail Trail follows the route of a former railroad that was an important Confederate transportation corridor during the Civil War. Today, the 5.5-mile trail is used for hiking and cycling. So the history here is not just in the name: The route runs along the former railroad corridor.
Between Railroad Tracks and Racing
A very different kind of track is found at VIRginia International Raceway. It hosts professional and amateur car and motorcycle racing. The racetrack opened in 1957 as one of the first permanent road-racing tracks in the United States. This brings together two distinct themes: the historic route of a railroad and the history of motorsports.
Lake Burton and Expansive Natural Areas
Lake Burton is a 76-acre reservoir in Pittsylvania County. For anglers, the rule about largemouth bass is important: All largemouth bass caught in the lake must be returned to the water immediately and unharmed. The largemouth bass population is considered very good.
If you drive to the lake from Chatham, the route heads west on Route 57 to Route 750 near Rondo. Then continue west on Route 800; the lake is about 4.3 miles from there. The distance is an approximate guide along the route described.
A different scale is evident at the White Oak Mountain Wildlife Management Area, which covers 2,748 acres. Lake Burton, at 76 acres, and this much larger area represent very different sizes of natural spaces within the county.
Historic Places and Their Architecture
The Chatham Historic District brings together county government buildings and commercial buildings dating from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The district’s residential neighborhoods developed between 1807 and 1950. Many properties are privately owned or can be seen from public roads. The different periods give the district a broad historical span, without all the buildings belonging to the same era.
The Gretna Commercial Historic District contains 26 notable buildings constructed between 1881 and the early 1960s. Architectural styles represented there include Commercial, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival and Art Deco. A comparison with Chatham reveals two different historical emphases: a district with government, commercial and residential areas in Chatham, and a commercially focused district in Gretna.
In Chatham, the Pittsylvania Historical Society Museum is located in the historic 1813 Clerk's Office, in the center of town behind Town Hall. The address is 16 Court Place, Chatham, VA 24531. The museum is open for special occasions and by appointment. Keep these access options in mind when planning a visit.
Another specialized collection can be seen at the Simpson Funeral Museum, which displays numerous 19th-century funeral antiques. Visits are by appointment only. Pittsylvania Wayside Park, by contrast, offers trails and a historic suspension bridge. During the Great Depression, the park was originally established as a picnic stop for traveling families; its present-day amenities and its origins shed light on different chapters in the area's history.
Local Market Products
The Farmers Market at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex is seasonal. During the 2026 market season, it brings local growers, artisans and producers together every Saturday morning. Owen Farm Market offers Virginia-grown fruits and vegetables, as well as peanuts and honey. The two markets have different focuses: one brings together a variety of local groups, while the other lists specific Virginia-grown products.
The visitor experience ranges from historic transportation routes and motorsports to a lake and large natural areas, as well as architecture, museum collections and local market products. You can choose what to explore in Pittsylvania County based on your interests and keep the listed access information in mind when visiting the museums.
Discover more destinations: Chatham, Cascade, Alleghany County, Westmoreland County, Wise County, Prince Edward County, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth.
Go to the main travel overview: Virginia.
