Editing Harrisonburg, Virginia (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Larkin Arts.jpg|thumbnail|left|Larkin Arts]] Harrisonburg has won several awards<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/awards|title=Awards and Recognitions|date=July 10, 2013|newspaper=City of Harrisonburg, VA|access-date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> in recent years, including "#6 Favorite Town in America" by Travel + Leisure in 2016,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-places/towns|title=America's Favorite Towns|newspaper=Travel + Leisure|access-date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> the "#15 Best City to Raise an Outdoor Kid" by Backpacker in 2009,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.backpacker.com/trips/washington/the-best-cities-to-raise-an-outdoor-kid-the-winning-25/3/#harrisonburg=&bp=0/img1|title=The Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid: The Winning 25 - Page 3 of 6 - Backpacker|date=July 1, 2009|newspaper=Backpacker|language=en-US|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028021357/http://www.backpacker.com/trips/washington/the-best-cities-to-raise-an-outdoor-kid-the-winning-25/3/#harrisonburg=&bp=0/img1|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the "#3 Happiest Mountain Town" by Blue Ridge Country Magazine in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blueridgecountry.com/newsstand/online_exclusives/top-61-happiest-blue-ridge-mountain-towns|title=The Top 61 Happiest Mountain Towns in the Blue Ridge|newspaper=BlueRidgeCountry.com|access-date=October 27, 2016}}</ref>

Harrisonburg holds the title of "Virginia's first Culinary District" (awarded in 2014).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hellman |first1=Reed |title='Farm to table' means just that in Virginia's first Culinary District |url=https://www.recreationnews.com/food-and-drink/adventures_in_taste/farm-to-table-means-just-that-in-virginia-s-first/article_e1f5d23f-3bef-52b1-bc26-a82d4575c681.html |website=Recreation News |access-date=January 29, 2019 |date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> The "Taste of Downtown" (TOD) week-long event takes place annually to showcase local breweries and restaurants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Events |url=https://downtownharrisonburg.org/annual-events/ |website=Downtown Harrisonburg |publisher=Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance |access-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> Often referred to as "Restaurant Week," the ''TOD'' event offers a chance for culinary businesses in downtown Harrisonburg to create specials, collaborations, and try out new menus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taste of Downtown |url=https://downtownharrisonburg.org/taste-of-downtown/ |website=Downtown Harrisonburg |publisher=Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181354/https://downtownharrisonburg.org/taste-of-downtown/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[creative class]] of Harrisonburg has grown alongside the revitalization of the downtown district. The designation of "first Arts & Cultural District in Virginia" was awarded to Downtown Harrisonburg in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=Main Street vibe |url=https://www.visitharrisonburgva.com/do-downtown-harrisonburg/ |website=Harrisonburg, VA: Friendly by Nature |publisher=Harrisonburg Tourism |access-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> Contributing to Harrisonburg's cultural capital are a collection of education and art centers, residencies, studios, and artist-facilitated businesses, programs, and collectives.

Some of these programs include:
* Larkin Arts, a community art center that opened in 2012 and has four symbiotic components: an art supply store, a fine arts gallery, a school with three classrooms, and five private studio spaces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stauntonfund.com/2012/09/sccf-out-about-larkin-arts-harrisonburg|title=SCCF OUT & ABOUT: LARKIN ARTS, HARRISONBURG|date=September 17, 2012|website=Staunton Creative Community Fund|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414191643/http://stauntonfund.com/2012/09/sccf-out-about-larkin-arts-harrisonburg/|archive-date=April 14, 2014|access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Stacy|first=Sarah|title=Larkin Arts hosts second annual juried art show|url=http://www.dnronline.com/article/20140214larkinarts|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140413163150/http://www.dnronline.com/article/20140214larkinarts|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2014|newspaper=DNR Harrisonburg}}</ref>
* Old Furnace Artist Residency (OFAR)<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Open Engagement Program|url=http://openengagement.info/home/program|publisher=Open Engagement}}</ref> and SLAG Mag: Artist residency and arts&culture quarterly zine focused on community engagement and social practice projects started in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jenner|first1=Andrew|title=Visiting With the Old Furnace Artist Residency|url=http://www.oldsouthhigh.com/2014/04/30/visiting-with-the-old-furnace-artist-residency/|website=Old South High|access-date=April 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729151043/http://www.oldsouthhigh.com/2014/04/30/visiting-with-the-old-furnace-artist-residency/|archive-date=July 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Harrisonburg's Little Free Library.jpg|thumbnail|right|A [[Little Free Library]] in Harrisonburg]]
* The Super Gr8 Film Festival, founded in 2009. The 2013 festival featured more than 50 locally produced films, and all of the films in the festival were shot using vintage cameras and Super 8 film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Jermiah|title=Lurid Pictures + Super Gr8 Film Fest = Awesome Harrisonburg|url=http://www.oldsouthhigh.com/2013/11/18/lurid-pictures-super-gr8-film-fest-awesome-harrisonburg/|publisher=Old South High|access-date=July 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629070947/http://www.oldsouthhigh.com/2013/11/18/lurid-pictures-super-gr8-film-fest-awesome-harrisonburg/|archive-date=June 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Arts Council of the Valley, including the Darrin-McHone Gallery and Court Square Theater, provides facilities and funding for various arts programs and projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valleyarts.org/about-us|title=About Us|website=Arts Council of the Valley|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416024024/http://www.valleyarts.org/about-us/|archive-date=April 16, 2014|access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>
* OASIS Fine Art and Craft, opened in 2000, is a cooperative gallery of over 35 local artists and artisans exhibiting and selling their work. It offers fine hand-crafted pottery, jewelry, fiber art, wood, metal, glass, wearable art, paintings, and photography.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oasisfineartandcraft.org/ |title=Home - OASIS Fine Art & Craft |publisher=Oasisfineartandcraft.org |access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref>
* The Virginia Quilt Museum, established in 1995, is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and nurturing Virginia's quilting heritage. It features a permanent collection of nearly 300 quilts, a Civil War Gallery, antique and toy sewing machines, and rotating exhibits from across the United States.<ref name="Virginia Quilt Museum"/>

===Historic sites===

==== The Harrison House (formerly the Thomas Harrison House) ====
The modern city of Harrisonburg grew up around this modest stone house, which until recently was thought to have been erected for Thomas Harrison ca. 1750. But new research and a dendrochronology study completed by James Madison University in 2018 has determined that it was built ca. 1790; Harrison died in 1785. Harrison laid out the town that was to bear his name on fifty acres of his holdings and was also instrumental in having Harrisonburg established as the Rockingham County seat in 1780. Prior to confirmation of the date of construction, it was believed that the first courts were held in this building, which is also associated with Bishop Francis Asbury, a pioneer leader of the Methodist Episcopal church, who often visited Harrison and conducted some of the county's first Methodist services. While the original Thomas Harrison house no longer exists, this building remains an early example of stone vernacular architecture in the Shenandoah Valley, and a contributing building in the Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District. Its window architraves are cut from solid walnut timbers. This house remained in the Harrison family until 1870, which is probably why it was long-thought to have been Thomas Harrison's.<ref>{{Cite web|title=115-0008 The Harrison House (formerly the Thomas Harrison House)|url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/115-0008/|access-date=|website=www.dhr.virginia.gov|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 1, 2017|title=Thomas Harrison House|url=https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/thomas-harrison-house|website=City of Harrisonburg, VA|language=en}}</ref>

==== Hardesty-Higgins House ====
Home to Harrisonburg's first mayor Isaac Hardesty, the house bears his name and the name of the physician, Henry Higgins, who began construction in 1848. Isaac Hardesty was born in 1795 and became the city's first Mayor by charter on March 16, 1849, incorporating the town of Harrisonburg. Hardesty completed construction of the home by 1853 and lived in the house with his wife, Ann, and two children. He was a successful business man, apothecary, and merchant, and he served on the board of directors of the Valley Turnpike Company.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|title=Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center|url=https://www.visitharrisonburgva.com/hardesty-higgins-house-visitor-center/|access-date=|website=Visit Harrisonburg Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley|date=January 7, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Isaac Hardesty supported the Union and moved from Harrisonburg during the early part of the Civil War. The Strayer sisters occupied the house and, during their stay, the sisters hosted Union General Nathaniel Banks. The house served as an inn after the war and was home to the Virginia Craftsman, makers of handcrafted furniture, from the 1920s to the 1980s.<ref name=":23" />

==== Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District ====
The approximately 100 acre [[Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Story Map Tour|url=https://harrisonburg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=ad2d662c08b94e5a9fc71bcd1a99fdf9|access-date=|website=harrisonburg.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> embraces the historic commercial and institutional core of the city. The principal axis of the district is Main Street, which runs approximately north–south through the district. Another principal thoroughfare is Liberty Street, which parallels Main Street. The principal cross axis is Market Street (US Highway 33), which intersects with Main Street on the east side of Court Square.<ref name=":24">{{Cite web|title=115-0187 Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District|url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/115-0187/|access-date=|website=www.dhr.virginia.gov|language=en-US}}</ref> The Romanesque Revival/Renaissance Revival 1896-97 Rockingham County Courthouse commands the square, and surrounding blocks arc densely developed with early twentieth century high-rise bank buildings and other commercial buildings from the 1870s through the 1950s. Most residential buildings dates to after the Civil War, when South Main Street developed as Harrisonburg's elite residential avenue. Notable houses from the period include Victorian/Queen Anne masterpieces such as Ute 1890 Joshua Wilton House and rarities such as the late 1880s Octagon House. Several fine Gothic Revival churches date to the early years of the twentieth century. Industrial buildings and warehouses date largely to the first half of the twentieth century and include the 1908 City Produce Exchange, a poultry shipping plant, and the late 1920s Maphis Chapman Co. gas storage tank factory. A complex of mid-twentieth century cinder block warehouses clusters near the 1913 Chesapeake Western Railway Station and the 1920-21 Rockingham Milling Co. roller mill on Chesapeake Avenue. Alter World War I automobile dealerships appeared in the downtown area. An outstanding example is the 1920 Rockingham Motor Co., an inspired Tudor Revival/Art Deco design. Architectural modernism achieved popularity in the 1940s and early 1950s at the end of the period of significance. Harrisonburg's downtown experienced a number of losses during the late twentieth century, but the recent rehabilitation of several key buildings demonstrates a growing commitment to the preservation of the district's historic character.<ref name=":24" />

==== Other sites ====
In addition to the Thomas Harrison House, Hardesty-Higgins House, Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District, and Old Town Historic District, the [[Anthony Hockman House]], [[Rockingham County Courthouse (Virginia)|Rockingham County Courthouse]], [[Lucy F. Simms School]], [[Whitesel Brothers]], and [[Joshua Wilton House]] are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref>