 SR 89 heads through downtown Galax before reaching its northern terminus at US 58 and US 221 (Stuart Drive).The whole route was added to the state highway system in 1928 as State Route 117.It was renumbered State Route 96 in the 1933 renumbering, and in the 1940 renumbering it was renumbered State Route 89 to match North Carolina Highway 89.