Bedford, Virginia
Home of the National D-Day Memorial. Gateway to Peaks of Otter. A small town with deep history.
The Town That Gave the Most
Bedford is a small town of about 7,000 people in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, 30 minutes west of Lynchburg. It's best known for a devastating distinction: Bedford lost the most soldiers per capita of any American community on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Nineteen young men from this small town died on Omaha Beach.
The National D-Day Memorial was dedicated here in 2001. It sits on a hilltop overlooking the town with a reflecting pool, bronze sculptures, and the names of every Allied soldier killed on D-Day. It's one of the most powerful war memorials in the country.
Beyond the memorial, Bedford is the gateway to Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway (15 minutes), home to the charming downtown with local shops and restaurants, and part of the growing Bedford County that includes Forest to the east.
Things to Do
History & Culture
- National D-Day Memorial
- Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library
- Historic downtown walking tour
- Bedford Area Welcome Center
Outdoors
- Peaks of Otter / Sharp Top hike (15 min)
- Blue Ridge Parkway access
- Abbott Lake loop trail
- Liberty Lake Park