Washington and Lee is a private liberal arts university located in Lexington, Virginia about 140 miles from Richmond, Virginia and 180 miles from Washington, D.C. W&L is named for two legendary namesakes: George Washington, whose endowment saved the school back in 1796, and Robert E. Lee who served as the school’s president from 1865 to 1870. The university’s campus is home to just under 1,900 students and surrounded by the beauty of the southern Appalachians. The small town of Lexington is both picturesque and historic just a 5 minute walk from campus.
Visitor Information: Tour W & L
Nearest Airport: Roanoke, Virginia is approximately a one-hour drive and Charlottesville is one hour and 15 minutes. Dulles in Washington is further, approximately a 3 ½ hour trip.
Stay: Right on Main Street check in to The Georges. The 18 rooms are housed in two buildings steeped in history, and redone with only the best modern luxury’s and conveniences. Other top choices include the Hampton Inn Lexington and the Robert E. Lee Hotel. For a full listing of other area’s B & B’s , cottages and hotels click here.
Coffee: Grab a morning brew at quaint Lexington Coffee Shop or at Pronto Caffé & Gelateria opened in 2012 by two local Lexington high school sweethearts.
Breakfast: Blue Sky Bakery is a cozy corner cafe with delicious baked goods, plus homemade soups & sandwiches later in the day. You’ll find standard breakfast fare at Sweet Treats Bakery.
Lunch: Bistro on Main is considered to have the best burger in the area along with a vast menu that works just as well at dinnertime. Other popular lunchtime choices are Pure Eats and Macado's.
Dinner
Casual: Head to Taps at the Georges for upscale pub food. Mano-Taqueria is the spot for casual Latin fare featuring 7 homemade hot sauces to spice up your meal.
A Step Up: Local hot spot the Southern Inn’s menu reflects favorites from across the south. The Red Hen serves a daily menu of farm-to-table New American cuisine in a rustic-cozy space. Haywood’s, at the Georges hotel, weekly menu showcases the best of the season. Rocca Bar Ristorante in the Robert and Lee hotel is a good stop for authentic Italian.
Best Place to Observe Students: Elrod Commons
Local Attractions: History buffs will be delighted, as the campus of W&L is a living museum with both the Colonnade and Lee Chapel on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit the Lee Chapel Museum and see Robert E. Lee's preserved office, just as he left it, and the Lee family crypt. Traveller, Lee’s horse is buried just outside the museum. In Lexington other notable historic sites include the George C. Marshall Museum on the VMI campus, Stonewall Jackson's home and grave, and Sam Houston's birthplace. Nearby in the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley outdoor enthusiasts will find mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, fly fishing, white water rafting, tubing, hiking, and skiing. Within a two-hour drive, is four million acres of national and state forests, in Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail.
— QUOTES FROM CAMPUS —
“The people and the town make the school what it is—the location is just gorgeous!”
“The faculty at W&L is renowned as researchers in their given fields. It has been an incredible academic experience, my professors really care about their students and our education.”
“Come visit—you’ll want to go here by the time you leave.”
“The small size, to me, is a plus—I immediately felt part of a community, a second family”
WASHINGTON AND LEE FAST FACTS
Established
1749
Mascot
Generals
School Colors
Royal Blue & White
Acceptance Rate
19.6% (2014)
Common Application
Yes
Supplement Essays
Yes
Early Action/Decision
Early Decision I and II
Type
Private
Size
Small
Website
Region
Admissions Office
Gilliam House
204 West Washington Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450
(p) (540) 458-8710
(f) (540) 458-8062
admissions@wlu.edu
Grace Loughhead, Associate Director of Admissions
Sports Divisions
NCAA Division III
Greek Life
Yes
Noteworthy Alumni
Tom Wolfe
Roger Mudd
Pat Robertson
SHOP
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
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