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Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm Thursday 10am - 4:30pm Friday 10am - 4:30pm Saturday 10am - 4:30pm

O. Winston Link Museum

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O. Winston Link Museum

Official page of O. Winston Link Museum dedicated to photographer documentation of last steam train.
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06/01/2026

June’s programs offer three very different ways to engage with history, creativity, and the museum’s mission.

Looking for a creative night out? After Hours Makers Series: Embroidered Memories on June 12 invites participants to transform vintage and found photographs into embroidered works of art in a relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop. Registration required: https://square.link/u/JRvpGhSM $20 for HSWV members / $25 for non-members.

Want to support local history while enjoying live performance? Music for the Museum: A Concert for Collections on June 14 combines music by Schubert, Bernstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and more with stories from Roanoke’s cultural past. All proceeds benefit the Historical Society of Western Virginia’s collections endowment. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Interested in learning professional preservation techniques for your own family photographs? Preserving Your Past: Photographs on June 27 is a hands-on workshop where participants will learn archival handling and storage methods while working with museum-quality preservation supplies they can take home afterward. Registration required: https://square.link/u/7fUV3Ooz $125 for members / $150 for non-members. Please note that registration closes June 4 so specialty materials can be ordered in time for the workshop.

05/31/2026

Just 2 weeks until Music for the Museum: A Concert for Collections.

Join us for an afternoon of live music featuring Adelaide Trombetta, Kevin Matheson, and Melia Garber performing works by Franz Schubert, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Leonard Bernstein, and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Historian Nelson Harris will also share stories from Roanoke’s cultural history throughout the program.

All proceeds benefit the Historical Society of Western Virginia’s Sara Airheart Endowment for Collections, helping support the care and preservation of the region’s history.

Sunday, June 14 at 3pm
Heights Community Church
$10 tickets available at the door

05/30/2026

Opening weekend is here at the Crystal Spring Pump Station.

Step inside one of Roanoke’s most remarkable industrial landmarks and experience the historic Snow Steam Pump, which supplied water to downtown Roanoke from 1905 to 1959. Built around the massive machine itself, the station tells the story of how Crystal Spring helped shape the city’s growth and development.

Visitors can see the pump in motion, explore exhibits on Roanoke’s early water system, view historic maps and photographs, and learn how this site continues to connect the city to its oldest source of drinking water.

Free tours are offered Saturdays from 12pm–4pm and Sundays from 1pm–4pm throughout the summer. The building is ADA accessible and air conditioned.

Join us this weekend for the first tours of the season.

05/26/2026

One day left.

Submissions for On the Rails close tomorrow for the second iteration of the photography exhibition at the O. Winston Link Museum.

The Roanoke History & O. Winston Link Museums is accepting final entries featuring trains and railroad subjects for this exhibition, on view June 25 through November 8, 2026.

Photographers of all levels may submit up to two images inspired by railroading, whether contemporary, historic, or influenced by O. Winston Link. Youth photographers under 17 are encouraged to apply.

If selected, works must be exhibition-ready at the time of drop-off.

Final deadline: May 27, 2026

Submit now: [email protected]

Questions: 540.982.5465

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exhibition.

05/23/2026

The Crystal Spring Pump Station reopens for the season next week.

Step inside one of Roanoke’s most remarkable pieces of industrial history and experience the massive Snow Steam Pump that supplied water to downtown Roanoke from 1905 to 1959. Purchased from Buffalo, New York and brought to Roanoke by train, the pump was so large that the building itself was constructed around it.

The steam-powered Snow Pump is recognized by the Smithsonian as one of the last known examples of its kind and the Crystal Spring Pump Station is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Pump Station visitors can see the historic pump in motion, explore exhibits on Roanoke’s early water system and development, view historic maps and photographs, and learn how Crystal Spring continues to play a role in the region’s water supply.

Free tours begin next weekend and are offered Saturdays from 12pm–4pm and Sundays from 1pm–4pm throughout the summer. The building is ADA accessible and air conditioned.

05/22/2026

Local Summer Saturdays coming soon!!!

Saturday, June 13 - FREE admission for residents of Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Floyd, and Montgomery Counties!

Bonus - check out the work of Artists-in-residence Bryce Cobbs and David Massey!

This event is sponsored by Spectrum Design.

05/21/2026

Preserving family photographs starts long before damage appears.

There are just 2 weeks left to register for Preserving Your Past: Family Photographs, our hands-on workshop focused on caring for and protecting your treasured images using professional archival techniques.

The early registration deadline helps ensure that all participants receive the special archival-quality supplies included with the workshop, which you will use during the session and take home to continue preserving your collection.

Space is limited. Register soon to reserve your spot. Register at https://square.link/u/7fUV3Ooz

05/20/2026

One week left to submit.

The On the Rails photography call is nearing its deadline for the second iteration of the exhibition coming to the O. Winston Link Museum this summer.

The Roanoke History & O. Winston Link Museums is seeking photographs featuring trains or railroad subjects for consideration in this upcoming exhibition, on view June 25 through November 8, 2026.

Photographers of all experience levels are invited to submit up to two images. Work may be inspired by O. Winston Link, contemporary rail photography, or historic railroad imagery. Youth photographers under 17 are encouraged to participate.

There is no submission fee, but all selected work must be exhibition-ready at the time of drop-off.

Final submission deadline is just one week away: May 27, 2026.

To submit, email [email protected]. Questions can be directed to Ashley Webb at 540.982.5465.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this celebration of rail photography.

05/06/2026

All aboard for On the Rails, returning this summer to the O. Winston Link Museum.

Submissions are now being accepted by the Roanoke History & O. Winston Link Museums for the second iteration of the On the Rails photography exhibition, on view June 25 through November 8, 2026.

Photographers of all experience levels are invited to submit up to two photographs featuring trains or railroad subjects for consideration. Your work might draw inspiration from O. Winston Link, reflect contemporary trainspotting, or highlight historic railroad imagery. Youth photographers under 17 are encouraged to apply.

There is no submission fee. Selected works must be ready to display, either framed or printed on a suitable medium.

Submission deadline: May 27, 2026
Artist drop-off (if accepted): June 10 and 11

To participate, email your images to [email protected]. For questions, contact Ashley Webb at 540.982.5465.

Help bring the story of the rails to life through your lens.

05/03/2026

Enjoy an afternoon of live music in support of preserving Roanoke’s history. Vocalist Adelaide Trombetta joins violinist Kevin Matheson and pianist Melia Garber for a dynamic program featuring works by Franz Schubert, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Leonard Bernstein, and selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Between performances, historian Nelson Harris will share engaging anecdotes on Roanoke’s rich cultural past.

All proceeds benefit the Historical Society of Western Virginia’s Sara Airheart Endowment for Collections, supporting the care and preservation of the region’s historical artifacts.

Music for the Museum: A Concert for Collections
Sunday, June 14, 2026
3pm
$10 - tickets available at the door
Heights Community Church
2014 Memorial Ave, Roanoke VA 24015

Address

101 Shenandoah Avenue NE
Roanoke, VA
24016

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 4:30pm
Thursday	10am - 4:30pm
Friday	10am - 4:30pm
Saturday	10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(540) 982-5465

Website

https://roanokehistory.org/

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