Photos courtesy of Botetourt Co.
A new Virginia historical marker recognizing Botetourt County’s role in the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail (USBR 76) was unveiled Monday along Catawba Road.
The marker commemorates Bikecentennial ’76, the cross-country bicycle ride held during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration that later inspired the creation of one of the country’s best-known cycling routes. More than 4,000 cyclists participated in the original 4,250-mile ride from Virginia to Oregon during the summer of 1976, with Botetourt County serving as one of the stops along the route.
The dedication ceremony included remarks from representatives of the Adventure Cycling Association, Virginia Tech, the Botetourt County Historical Society, the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce, and a participant in the original 1976 ride. A statement from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources was also read during the event.
The ceremony also marked the unveiling of the new USBR 76 Resting Bench, created by local artists at Lift Arc Studios and funded in part through the PEDAL project. County officials said the bench is intended to reflect Botetourt County’s longstanding hospitality toward cyclists traveling the route.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
