Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia is a fun and exciting place to live and visit, with plenty of events and attractions to entertain the whole family all year round. Whether it is fast-paced racing at the Martinsville Speedway or the relaxing current of the Smith River that’s calling to you, our community welcomes everyone to come and explore all we have to offer. The following are just a few of the many cultural, historical, and recreational attractions available here. For more information or assistance in planning a trip, contact the Martinsville-Henry County Office of Tourism or visit the Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To access the region's Calendar of Events, please visit the Visit Martinsville Website.

Culture and Science

Virginia Museum of Natural History
Located in its new, world-class facility, the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Uptown Martinsville has interactive exhibits, observation laboratories, and impressive collections that will entertain while educating visitors on the natural history of Virginia, the nation, and the world. The Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and houses over 22 million items within its collection.

Gateway Streetscape Foundation 
The Gateway Streetscape Foundation seeks to enhance the area's aesthetic value by planting trees, flowers, and shrubbery around major roadways and thoroughfares. The Foundation also serves as the local environmental agent promoting recycling, reusing, and reducing and litter control. Gateway  has multiple events each year to celebrate the community's beauty and promote environmental stewardship and education.

Piedmont Arts Association
The Piedmont Arts Association offers a wide variety of exhibitions by regional, national, and international artists within its five galleries located in Uptown Martinsville. These exhibits change every six to eight weeks and the Association also has activities specially tailored to families including the Discovery Room and “Treasure Hunts” throughout the facility. The Piedmont Arts Association also hosts live performances including music, dance, and theater as part of its On Stage Series.

Southern Virginia Artisan Center
The Southern Virginia Artisan Center is supported by Patrick Henry Community College and consists of a unique gallery and store located in the front of the School of Craft and Design. The Artisan Center offers a wide variety of classes and certificate programs and the gallery features the best work of local and regional artists.

Theatre Works
Created in 2004 by a group of local people who were committed to the potential of Community Theatre, TheatreWorks currently produces one major musical production each summer. TheatreWorks has long term plans for a full-time artistic director, a full theater season, acting classes for children and adults, and a permanent theater home. Past productions include "Little Shop of Horrors" in 2005 and "Children of Eden" in 2006.

Walker Fine Arts Theater at Patrick Henry Community College
The Walker Fine Arts Theatre is a state-of-the-art theatre seating 317. In addition to using the Theatre for speech and drama classes, the College presents two student productions each year, as well as several community and touring cultural events. The Theatre may be reserved by community organizations and businesses if available.

Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association
The Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association hosts multiple events all year long in an effort to promote Uptown Martinsville. These events include popular outdoor concerts, a series of summer events, movies, Lunch on the Lawn, and the area Farmer's Market. A full calendar of the Association's events can be found on their website.

Blue Ridge Regional Library
The Blue Ridge Regional Library consists of five locations in Bassett, Collinsville, Martinsville, Ridgeway, and Stuart that offer programs and materials to educate, enrich, and entertain the entire community. Each branch has its own schedule of book discussions, early literacy programs, and history days. The Martinsville Branch is also a Family Place Library, making it a hub of the community with resources and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Historical

Fayette Area Historical Initiative Museum
The Fayette Area Historical Initiative Museum was created to collect, preserve and interpret the African American experience in Martinsville and Henry County. Located in a historical landmark, the museum showcases African American history and culture through displays and exhibits.

Henry County Courthouse
The grounds of the Courthouse are the first stop of the "Walking Tour of Historic Uptown Martinsville." A guidebook of the tour is available from the Martinsville Uptown  Revitalization Association (MURA). The building is currently closed to the public, while undergoing a restoration planning process, but is open on special occasions by the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society.

Bassett Historical Center
The Bassett Historical Center is the repository for all genealogical research and local history of Henry and Patrick Counties and the City of Martinsville, Virginia. It is a specialized branch in the Blue Ridge Regional Library system in which patrons from all over the United States and nine foreign countries have viewed the 9,500 family files and 3,000 local history files housed there.

Spencer-Penn Centre
Located in Spencer, Virginia, Spencer-Penn was originally a public school for grades 1-7 and a high school. The school closed in 2004, and area residents bought the property to so that it could serve the community as an education and special events center. Obtaining status on the Virginia Landmarks List and on the Historic Register was a top priority and this was granted in early 2005.

Recreation

Fairystone State Park
Fairy Stone State Park, the largest of Virginia's six original state parks, is home to its namesake "fairy stones." These rare mineral crosses and the Park's scenic beauty, rich history and ample recreational opportunities make it a local and regional favorite. Within Fairystone there are boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking, horse-back riding, and hunting opportunities.

Philpott Lake
There are pristine natural resources and recreational opportunities in fishing, boating, swimming, and camping along Philpott Lake in the northwestern corner of Henry County. Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Lake’s Visitor Center offers information on hiking trails, natural resources, the Lake’s history, and water safety.

Smith River
Once a world-class trophy trout stream, the Smith River still beckons regional fisherman on a regular basis. Fly fishing, kayaking, and canoeing are popular recreational opportunities and area partners are working diligently to improve public access to the river. Local outfitters include Smith River Junction in Fieldale and Three River Outfitters  in Eden, NC.

Golf
There are four private golf courses and one public golf course located within a 15 minute drive of Martinsville. These include Chatmoss Country Club , Forest Park Country Club , Bassett Country Club , and Lynwood Golf and Country Club.

Baseball: Martinsville Mustangs
Sponsored by the NCAA and Major League Baseball, this high quality, wooden-bat league is composed of college players aspiring for Major League positions. Playing 52 games from June to August, the Martinsville Mustangs provide family fun and thrilling play.

Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority
The Smith River Sports Complex will feature adult and youth sports fields for soccer, lacrosse, rugby and other outdoor activities. Once constructed the Uptown Arena and Fieldhouse will feature basketball courts, volleyball courts, indoor soccer courts, and workout facilities within Uptown Martinsville. Both facilities will be available for use by local residents and by outside groups for tournaments, conferences and concerts.

Motorsports

Martinsville Speedway
Opened in 1947, this infamous short-track features tight turns and 800-foot straightaways. The 86,000 seat facility currently hosts two Nextel Cup races, two Craftsman Truck series races, a NASCAR Late Model Stock car race and a NASCAR Whelen Modified race.

Fork Mountain Raceway
The roots of NASCAR are still found at Fork Mountain Raceway. Built as a drag strip in the 1950s, the track is now a 3/8 mile clay tri-oval. Events are scheduled nearly every weekend from March to October and offer a thrilling racing experience with Late Models, Crate Late Models, Super Streets, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks, U-Cars & Mini Sprints and more.

Lake Sugar Tree Motorsport Park
Lake Sugar Tree Motorsport is home to the best in motocross and ATV racing within the region. The Park offers workshops by Motorcycle Hall of Famer Gary Bailey year round and an exciting race schedule for MX, ATV, Cross Country and Hare Scrambles, and Stadium Motocross races.