Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center
Welcome to the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center
"Where History & Hospitality MeetSM"
The Hardesty-Higgins House was home to Harrisonburg's first mayor, Isaac Hardesty. He became the Mayor by charter March 16, 1849, incorporating the town of Harrisonburg.
Today, the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center is a multi-use facility operated by Harrisonburg Tourism. Inside you will find Visitor Services, Rocktown Gift Shoppe, Mrs. Hardesty's Tea Room, The Valley Turnpike Museum,and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Civil War Orientation Center. Executive offices for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and Harrisonburg Tourism are located upstairs. We opened in July of 2005 to serve the community and visitors to the region.
The Hardesty-Higgins House has become the place where history and hospitality meet.
On premises
- Rocktown Gift Shoppe open Mon-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm
- Mrs Hardesty's Tea Room open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
- The Valley Turnpike Museum open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
- The Civil War Orientation Center open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
Hours of Operation
- Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
- Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day
- Call for hours - Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day
Additional Information
- The Center is a Virginia State Certified Regional Visitor Center
- Computer on site- Free online access for travel information
- Lodging & Dining Reservations
e-mail tourism@harrisonburgva.gov for a free visitor guide
Tourism staff:
Brenda Black
Tourism Operations and Visitor Services Manager
brendab@harrisonburgva.gov
Zenaida Hall
Media and Marketing Coordinator
zenaidah@harrisonburgva.gov
Erika LaBounty
Promotions Coordinator
erika.labounty@@harrisonburgva.gov
Visitor Services
- Carole Downey, Travel Counselor
- Carole Hoover, Travel Counselor
- Jane Hoover, Travel Counselor,
- Rebecca Knotts, Travel Counselor
- Elizabeth Kyger,Travel Counselor
- Ann Marie Leonard, Travel Counselor
- Rosemarie Palmer, Travel Counselor
- Nancy Stratford, Travel Counselor
- RoxAnna Theiss, Travel Counselor