Richmond magazine, 6/18/21:
All Aboard in Roanoke
Roanoke is known for the electric lighted star on Mill Mountain, but it’s also steeped in train history. Once known as “Big Lick,” for a large salt lick formation along the Roanoke River, this southwest Virginia city changed its name and boomed because of its links to railroads in the 1800s. Today, ribbons of track prominently crisscross the area and cut a swath through Roanoke’s downtown.