Today’s Christiansburg Institute, Inc is located on the south side of Scattergood Drive, just off North Franklin Street, near downtown Christiansburg, Virginia. Currently, undergoing revitalization, this 4.4 acre site revives its 22 building, 185 acre, 100 year-old predecessor through restored buildings, historical building footprints and a new building incorporating historic features and community service. The revitalization project, initiated by the historic school’s alumni association is a work in progress with a projected completion date in mid-2007. This $5.9 million revitalization will bring to the public the restored Virginia Landmark and National Registry listed1927 Edgar A. Building, the 1924 Historic Trades Building, a new Trades Learning Center, and a replica-the 1902 Smokehouse. Additionally, the site will hold signed footprints of the historic campus: a former plantation house and two of its slave cabins; the 1910 Baily Morris Hall and the 1902 Morris Hall.

The 100-year old history will come alive through the CI Museum and Archive, a vital component of the revitalization and service programs. While the 1966 public action to close the school with the advent of full desegregation in Virginia initiated near destruction, the documentation of its outstanding history and living alumni provide a remarkable repository to serve its revival. The historic school will come alive through actual restoration; permanent and changing exhibits, a virtual historic campus tour and an archive of more than 4000 original documents and photographs as well actual and virtual secondary sources such as Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore University, Library of Congress, Tuskegee Institute, Virginia State University, Virginia State Department of Education, Library of Virginia, National Archives and Record Administration and local universities. Oral histories of CI students and faculty are a significant element in the on-going archive program with collection initiated by the alumni association in the 1980’s, is on-going and will continue until the opportunity to collect has been collected.

1. Edgar A. Long Building.
2. Photo courtesy Andy Morikawa.