A Partnership of Virginia Tech and Virginia Association of Museums
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and the 50th anniversary of the Bikecentennial, which brought thousands of cyclists through Virginia across 500+ miles from Yorktown, VA to Breaks Interstate State Park in Breaks, VA. PEDAL Bike 76 Va is a community engagement initiative to fund Public Exhibitions, Displays, Art, and Logos by community organizations, historical societies, art museums, tribal museums, units of local government, and regional agencies along or near the route. These exhibits call attention to regional and local features consistent with community-based placemaking, convey a welcoming message to cyclists, visitors, and residents.
As of April 2026, the following PEDAL projects have been funded: a poster exhibit at Damascus Trail Center, informational signs at Wilderness Road Museum (Newbern) and Ratcliffe Museum (Pulaski), children’s art work in Lexington, a bench along Route 76 in Botetourt County, a sign located at Historic Smithfield in Blacksburg, exhibit signs along the Capital Bike Trail in Henrico County and Jamestown, and a sculpture at a coffee shop in James City County. See below for images from projects as of July 2026.
Welcome to Botetourt Bench, Daleville
Exhibition sign at the Wilderness Road Museum. Newbern, Virginia
A mural located at the Four Mile Creek Trailhead for the Capital Bike Trail recognizes African Americans who fought on both sides during the revolutionary war, thus recognizing the complicated and contested meanings of freedom during the founding era of the United States
Exhibition sign at the Jamestown trailhead for the Virginia Capital Trail
Posters from Chain Reaction poster exhibit, Damascus Trail Center
Exhibition sign, Ratcliffe Museum, Pulaski
Road to America 250 Exhibit sign at Historic Smithfield, Blacksburg
Questions may be directed to Tom Ewing (etewing@vt.edu) or Casey Jenkins (cjenkins@vamuseums.org). Questions about Virginia Association of Museums members may be directed to membership@vamuseums.org.
Larger maps (link, Virginia Department of Transportation link)
