Roanoke Audio Tour: Steel Rails, Towering Tales & Historic Echoes

Above photo: Willem van Valkenburg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped & resized.

A steam-powered titan once thundered down the rails where city streets now sleep and echo with secrets. Roanoke is alive with tales beneath its industrial skin.

This self-guided audio tour walks you through downtown’s unexpected side, where historic courtrooms meet locomotive legends. Turn corners most never notice. Discover stories few ever hear.

Who stood defiant in the courthouse shadows during a scandal that shook the region’s justice system? What hidden pact linked railway tycoons and civic leaders beneath the clang of Norfolk and Western 1218? And why does a forgotten car in the Transportation Museum still draw whispers from locals decades later?

Wander from solemn marble to iron and steam. Trace the city’s pulse from legal showdowns to mechanical marvels. Each step unpacks Roanoke’s drama and invites you to see the ordinary transformed by history’s spark.

Start now. Follow the thunder and reveal what others overlook.

• 
  
• Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes
  
• Distance: Around 3.0 km (1.8 miles)
  
• Audio Content: up to 35min
  
• Meeting Point: Start at Wells Fargo Tower (Roanoke), only a 3 minute walk from Roanoke Train Station
  
• Stops: 14 captivating landmarks including United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Virginia Museum of Transportation, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
  

Experience the charm of Roanoke like never before. Dive deep into tales of yesteryears, marvel at architectural wonders, and feel the pulse of the city as you navigate through its vibrant streets.

• 
  
• Professionally narrated audio stories bringing Roanoke's history to life
  
• Interactive map to guide your journey seamlessly
  
• Opportunities to explore and capture the city's most picturesque spots
  
• Flexibility to start, pause, and resume the tour at your convenience
  

• 
  
• This is a self-guided audio tour on your phone so no in-person guide.
  
• You'll need a smartphone with Android 7.0+ or iOS 16+ (iPhone 8 or later).
  
• You can start the tour at any time (the event time does not matter).
  
• The tour will be available to you forever so you can explore on any day.
  
• Bring headphones and make sure your phone is charged!
  

Once you book the tour, you'll receive an email within 10 minutes containing your unique redemption code and simple instructions to download our app. Enter the code, and you're all set to explore Roanoke on your terms.

It doesn't matter which date or time you select, when you redeem the code, the audio tour will be available to you permanently so you can explore on any day.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple seeking a romantic escapade, a family on an educational outing, or a group of friends eager for adventure, this tour caters to all. It's perfect for those who value flexibility, rich storytelling, and the freedom to explore without constraints.

AllTours is your ultimate travel companion for immersive audio tours. Discover cities like never before as our app reveals the stories behind the sights. Just plug in your headphones and explore!

With AllTours, you'll experience:

• 
  
• Immersive Experiences: Our digital guides bring landmarks to life with captivating stories and historical insights
  
• Offline Access: Download tours and maps for offline use – perfect for travelers concerned about data usage
  
• Interactive Maps: Navigate effortlessly with our user-friendly interface showing the optimal route
  
• Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume tours whenever you want – explore at your own pace
  
• Multilingual Support: Enjoy tours in your preferred language with our extensive language options
  

AllTours transforms ordinary sightseeing into extraordinary adventures. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, we help you explore like a local while learning fascinating stories along the way.

You will visit the following locations:

• 🗼  Wells Fargo Tower (Roanoke) (2min)
• 🎭  Norfolk and Western Railway Company Historic District (4min)
• 🏛️  Colonial National Bank (Roanoke, Virginia) (3min)
• ⛰️  Mill Mountain Theatre (3min)
• 🚉  Fire Station No. 1 (Roanoke, Virginia) (3min)
• 🏢  Boxley Building (3min)
• 🏨  Patrick Henry Hotel (4min)
• ⛪  St. John's Episcopal Church (Roanoke, Virginia) (4min)
• 📍  United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (3min)
• 🗿  Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (3min)
• 🏛️  Roanoke Downtown Historic District (Roanoke, Virginia) (4min)
• 🗿  Robert E. Lee Memorial (Roanoke, Virginia) (3min)
• 🏛️  Virginia Museum of Transportation (3min)
• 🎭  Norfolk and Western 1218 (3min)

Each stop features engaging audio stories that bring the location's history and significance to life.

Above photo: Federal government of the United States, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Warfieldian, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Willem van Valkenburg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Patriarca12, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Patriarca12, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Our tours are available in 30+ languages to ensure you have the best experience:

🇬🇧 English  • 

🇫🇷 French  • 

🇪🇸 Spanish  • 

🇩🇪 German  • 

🇮🇹 Italian  • 

🇵🇹 Portuguese  • 

🇷🇺 Russian  • 

🇯🇵 Japanese  • 

🇨🇳 Chinese  • 

🇳🇱 Dutch  • 

🇧🇷 Portuguese (Brazil)  • 

🇸🇦 Arabic  • 

🇰🇷 Korean  • 

🇸🇪 Swedish  • 

🇩🇰 Danish  • 

🇫🇮 Finnish  • 

🇵🇱 Polish  • 

🇨🇿 Czech  • 

🇭🇺 Hungarian  • 

🇬🇷 Greek  • 

🇹🇷 Turkish  • 

🇮🇳 Hindi  • 

🇦🇱 Albanian  • 

🇪🇹 Amharic  • 

🇦🇲 Armenian  • 

🇧🇩 Bengali  • 

🇧🇦 Bosnian  • 

🇧🇬 Bulgarian  • 

🇲🇲 Burmese  • 

🇪🇸 Catalan  • 

🇭🇷 Croatian  • 

🇪🇪 Estonian  • 

🇬🇪 Georgian  • 

🇮🇳 Gujarati  • 

🇮🇸 Icelandic  • 

🇮🇩 Indonesian  • 

🇮🇳 Kannada  • 

🇰🇿 Kazakh  • 

🇱🇻 Latvian  • 

🇱🇹 Lithuanian  • 

🇲🇰 Macedonian  • 

🇲🇾 Malay  • 

🇮🇳 Malayalam  • 

🇮🇳 Marathi  • 

🇲🇳 Mongolian  • 

🇳🇴 Norwegian  • 

🇮🇷 Persian  • 

🇮🇳 Punjabi  • 

🇷🇴 Romanian  • 

🇷🇸 Serbian  • 

🇸🇰 Slovak  • 

🇸🇮 Slovenian  • 

🇸🇴 Somali  • 

🇰🇪 Swahili  • 

🇵🇭 Tagalog  • 

🇮🇳 Tamil  • 

🇮🇳 Telugu  • 

🇹🇭 Thai  • 

🇺🇦 Ukrainian  • 

🇵🇰 Urdu  • 

🇻🇳 Vietnamese

🎉 Congratulations on reading this far! You've earned yourself a little treat. Use code ILOVEAUDIOTOURS at checkout for 10% off your tour. Because who doesn't love a good discount for being thorough? 😉

Also check out other Arts events in Roanoke, Nonprofit events in Roanoke, Theatre events in Roanoke.