During your time at the History Museum of Western Virginia, explore permanent and temporary exhibits throughout the museum’s two galleries that relate to the history of the region. The museum shop is the perfect place to pick up a gift or keepsake to remember your time at the museum.
Museum Collection
The history museum boasts the largest repository of material devoted to tracing the human history of Western Virginia. Within the collection are nearly 6,000 three dimensional objects, 1,300 books, 8,000 photographs, 8,000 documents and many maps, slides, postcards and textiles. Collection highlights include: Native American arrowheads, pottery, and a rare example of "Rawrenoke" beads; photographs from the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce taken over a century; a letter written by Thomas Jefferson describing his scientific observations on a visit to the Peaks of Otter; a desk, books and complete set of medical implements used by local surgeon and soldier Colonel William Fleming; a lithograph of the Peaks of Otter by noted German romantic artist, Edward Beyer; a working 1925 Marshall and Wendell baby grand player piano; Roanoke's first retail-sold television; and an antique still from Patrick County.
Migrations at the Crossroads of History
Located on the third floor of the museum is Migrations at the Crossroads of History. Discover 10,000 years of Western Virginia’s cultural heritage through interactive audiovisual features, games and artifacts from the museum’s collection that span the whole of people’s experience in the region.
The Virginia Dulcimer:200 Years of Bowing, Strumming and Picking
Learn about the long journey of the dulcimer, one of the most popular symbols of mountain music, in The Virginia Dulcimer:200 Years of Bowing, Strumming and Picking. See the journey the dulcimer made from northern Europe to the mountains of Appalachia to the folk musicians across the nation. The dramatic changes the dulcimer underwent when it reached Virginia will unfold as you explore over 50 examples of the instrument dating from the 1700s to the present. Of the many examples is the 1832 Floyd County dulcimer, the oldest known signed and dated example of the instrument, in the nation.
Shopping at the History Museum of Western Virginia
Be sure to stop by the Museum of Western Virginia’s gift shop. Western Virginia maps, books and journals, toys and games and souvenirs are available for purchase.
- The History Museum of Western Virginia is ADA compliant.