Chain Reaction: How Bikes Led to a Trail-Town Revolution

A new public exhibit, Chain Reaction: How Bikes Led to a Trail-Town Revolution, at the Damascus Trail Center invites visitors to explore the rich trail culture and national significance of Southwest Virginia as part of America’s 250th anniversary. Funded through the PEDAL (Public Exhibitions, Displays, Art, and Logos) Grant Program, presented by Virginia Association of Museums and Virginia Tech, this exhibit highlights Damascus’s unique role as a trail hub and its connection to U.S. Bicycle Route 76—a historic cycling corridor stretching across Virginia.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Damascus Trail Center to learn about the region’s trail systems, including the historic and famous Appalachian Trail, and celebrate the enduring connection between public lands, recreation, and American history.