Rockbridge History Bee

The Rockbridge Historical Society is committed to a spirit of lifelong education in local history, supporting the range of generations that continue to shape, and to preserve, our County’s legacies.

The Rockbridge History Bee is an example of educational outreach that the Rockbridge Historical Society presents to the community. A “Bee”, comprised of multiple choice questions based only on Rockbridge History, is held annually for all high school age students in Rockbridge County. Prizes are cash awards.

In 2018, winners from the first Rockbridge History Bee were asked to reflect on their process, as they prepared to return a second time. We asked them two questions:

How has your experience of learning about local history shaped your studies of history, or general curiosities and experiences outside of school, for last year’s History Bee, and since?

“It’s surprising how many names and signs around the county stand out after reading “Remarkable Rockbridge,” and fascinating to be able to relate what seemed to be an arbitrary name for a road or building to history that I now recall. “ -Quinn Hoover

“Rockbridge County is extremely rich in a history that many of us live here not knowing. I’ve lived here my entire life and would never learn all the things that I know now had I not read “Remarkable Rockbridge.” Lexington’s been through many challenging and trying times since its founding in 1778, which only helps to further my pride as a member of this community.

I’ve always been curious about things in the County. And since I first studied for last year’s History Bee, I’ll be riding in the car with my friends or family, and when I see a building downtown I’ll shout out when it was built and what it originally was. Maybe the facts seem random to them, but I still want to know more about this area. I also go down to my neighbor Shirley’s house and talk for hours about this county and the local area that I live in.

I’m never bored when I am learning about history.” -Jacob Trout

If you could spend one week ’embedded’ in any historical moment of Rockbridge History — and return safely to the present — when would you choose, and why? What would you hope to see/learn?

“Any number of weeks throughout 1900’s would be interesting to me. I’d be keen to see what college classes felt like at W&L throughout the century, particularly in the early 1900’s, when new areas like the Commerce School were added to the curriculum. Or later on with events like first Mock Convention. Especially as I get ready to go to college, it’s interesting to think about how student and faculty views would differ from those time periods and perspectives.” -Quinn Hoover