The Downtown Tour

There are several places where you may want to Take A Selfie.

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This will be a reminder of the GREAT TIME you had and help in promoting Weldon to your friends.

Thank You.

Weldon, Rockfish Capital of the World and Early Transportation Hub.

Here at the entrance to Weldon’s Downtown, visitors are welcome by Rocky The Rockfish.

The River Trail will explain why Weldon is the Rockfish Capital of the World, and the Train Rail will explore how Weldon became the transportation hub of canal boats, steamboats, railroads and highways.

Let’s get started.

The Downtown Tour starts here at Rocky Rockfish Park.

The tour will walk you along Weldon’s “Main Street”, Washington Avenue, pointing out bits of history and opportunities to shop along the way.

1893 Town Hall & Jail

Adjacent to Rocky The Rockfish
is a small brick building that has severed many purposes through Weldon’s History.
 
As a Town Hall, and Jail, a Town Band Practice Hall, A school, a Library and Meeting Hall for the Americal Legion.
 
As a Town Hall and Jail….According to The Roanoke News (local newspaper) the construction of the Town Hall was awarded in June 1893 and was described as being “an ornament to that portion of town, as well as a convenient place where the scales of justice may be evenly balanced, as the sinners are introduced to his Honor”
 
Upon taking a trip down the narrow rickety staircase to the bottom floor of the structure, one will find two extremely small rooms. One of the rooms served as the jail cell and the other as a bathroom for the prisoners. It is easy to imagine a group of drunkards spending the “morning after” in the tiny cubicle.

View the Train Mural

Take a selfie. 

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This mural gives a view of activity that once occurred at Weldon’s Union Station. With trains stopping and passengers boarding on the upper and lower tracks.

Shop Our Shops – Find a Treasure

Downtown Weldon’s Treasure Hunting District has many shops with Lots of Stuff.

Downtown Weldon Apartments

The buildings on the west side of the street were built in the 1890’s and have mostly served the community as a furniture store and hardware store. In 2006, Landmark Assets bought the buildings along with some in the 100 block, completed a major renovation and developed apartments and storefronts. Along with additional investments from The Town of Weldon, the result was a $3 million investment in Downtown Weldon.

The apartments are 100% occupied with a waiting list and the storefronts are rented with a thriving business.  These apartments and residents are an asset to the mixed use of the business district.

The Longest Railroad

View the Highway Market “Wilmington & Weldon Railroad”

When completed in 1840, this rail line was the Longest Railroad in the World.

FlatIron Building

The buildings on the west side of Washington Avenue make up Weldon’s Flatiron Block. When you get to the end of the street  you will find the apex of this triangle shape building. The first building built in 1877 with others in 1882 and 1897 were built this way because the train tracks ran at an angle to the street grid,  

Once upon a time, (see the 1893 map on the Train Rail page) what is now the back of the buildings were actually the storefronts facing the very active railroad tracks where there was a large train shed that covered 5 train tracks. Now there is only one track. A large hotel was in the lot between the low track and the high track.

This a is a popular spot of photographers taking family or wedding photos.

Go ahead, Take a Selfie

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We Suggest that you…

1st

Explore the Train Rail,

0.1 miles

The Train Rail

  • Explore the buildings and Informational Signs at this intersection of 1st Street and Washington Avenue.
  • This area is also popular with train watchers and photographers.

2nd

Walk to and relax at the River

0.6 miles round trip

River Trail

Turn Right on First Street
  •  0.2 mile – Highway Marker – Roanoke Canal
  • 0.2 mile – Underwater Mural in Hwy 301 Tunnel
  • 0.3 mile – River Falls Park Observation Deck and Boat Landing, Restrooms

3rd

Travel along the Canal Trail.

2 miles round trip

Canal Trail

Turn Left on First Street
  • 0.25 mile – Riverside Mill Antique, Craft, Outlet Mall
  • Checkout a FREE Loaner Bicycle to ride on the Roanoke Canal Trail to the next stops…  
  • 0.5 mile – Confederate Cemetery
  • 0.75 mile – Roanoke Canal Aqueduct