The Botetourt Museum of History & Culture has a new exhibit throughout several galleries showcasing Virginia Tech’s Bikecentennial. Shown is the 1926 map of Virginia’s highway system that three Daleville College students bicycled in 1910. They were called the “Daleville Boys” and are in the old picture, displayed from left to right: W.C. Ikenberry, D.W. Peters and A.C. Flora. They completed a round trip of more than 1,000 miles from Roanoke to Boston and back. Along the way they observed Revolutionary era historical sites. The purpose of their trip was to enlighten the public and government on the need for improved transportation especially for cyclists.
2026 marks 50 years since the 1976 Bikecentennial was started by Clarence Pickard. Today, E. Thomas Ewing is the director of the “Bike 76VA Project” and is a history professor at Virginia Tech. There is more information at the museum.
The “Bicycling in Virginia” map can be obtained online at http://www.virginia for.org/bikemap.
~ Botetourt County Museum of History & Culture
