Fincastle's Historic District is on the Virginia Register of Historic Landmarks. Fincastle was founded in 1772 and named after Lord Fincastle, son of Lord Dunmore, Virginia's last royal governor. Antebellum churches, tree-lined street, a courthouse designed by Thomas Jefferson, restored homes and a quaint village atmosphere make it a wonderful place to visit. A walking tour is available. Historic Fincastle Inc. holds a festival in the middle of September as a fund-raising endeavor to continue the preservation of the town.
Membership is welcomed.
Botetourt County Historical Society maintains the Botetourt County History Museum in Fincastle. It is located behind the courthouse and membership in the Historical Society is welcomed. More than a dozen other Botetourt sites are on the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register. Historical markers abound throughout the county, providing a glimpse of the past. One in Fincastle notes that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed from this frontier town when they were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase.