Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center
Welcome to the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center
" Where History and Hospitality Meet "
The Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center - Open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
212 S. Main Street~ Harrisonburg~Virginia~22801~ 540-432-8935
A Virginia State Certified Regional Visitor Center offering State Travel information, Free online access for travel information, Virginia Maps, Travel Resources and assistance in Lodging & Dining Reservations. Also located within the House:
- 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
History of the Hardesty-Higgins House
Home to Harrisonburg's first mayor Isaac Hardesty, the house bears his name and the name of the physician, Henry Higgins who began construction in 1848. Isaac Hardesty was born in 1795 and became the city's first Mayor by charter on March 16, 1849, incorporating the town of Harrisonburg. Hardesty completed construction of the home by 1853 and lived in the house with his wife, Ann and two children. He was a successful business man, apothecary, merchant, and he served on the Board of Directors of the Valley Turnpike Company.
Isaac Hardesty supported the Union and moved from Harrisonburg during the early part of the Civil War. The Strayer sisters occupied the house and during their stay, the sisters hosted Union General Nathaniel Banks. The house served as an inn after the war and was home to the Virginia Craftsman, makers of handcrafted furniture from the 1920s to the 1980s.
In May 2001, the City of Harrisonburg purchased the house, thanks in part to a federal Transportation Enhancement Act grant in the amount of $420,000. In May 2003, a second TEA-21 grant was received in the amount of $175,000 to assist with renovation costs. The intention was to create a multi-use facility to serve the community as a visitor center and museum that would restore the homes significance to the City of Harrisonburg.
Today the building is operated by Harrisonburg Tourism. Inside you will find Visitor Services, the Rocktown Gift Shoppe, Mrs. Hardesty's Tea Room, The Valley Turnpike Museum, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Civil War Orientation Center and the executive offices for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and Harrisonburg Tourism. We opened in July of 2005 to serve the community and visitors to the region.
