Roanoke History Museum

06/24/2026

Go behind the scenes and explore the stories hidden within the museum's collections.

The next installment of Collections Unpacked will focus on Revolutionary Relics, bringing together rarely seen artifacts connected to the American Revolution and the people who experienced this pivotal moment in our nation's history.

Join Executive Director and Curator Ashley Webb as she shares the stories behind these remarkable objects, their connections to the Revolutionary War, and what they reveal about life in Virginia during the era of independence.

Collections Unpacked: Revolutionary Relics
July 9 | 5:30–6:30 pm
$10 per person ($5 for HSWV members)

Registration is required and space is limited. Reserve your spot today. Register at https://square.link/u/kGl5f2wF

06/22/2026

Image of the Week
In this photograph from 1950, pilot Martha Anne Woodrum is enjoying a conversation with her father, Clifton A. Woodrum, who as a member of Congress helped to bring improvements to Roanoke's airport.

See this photograph and more in our digital collections – http://hswv.pastperfectonline.com/

06/20/2026

Just one week until Preserving Your Past: Photographs.

Join the Museum's Curator for this hands-on workshop and learn the professional techniques used to identify, handle, and safely preserve family photographs. Whether you are caring for a few treasured images or an entire collection, you'll leave with the knowledge and confidence to protect them for future generations.

Space is limited, but there is still time to register. Reserve your spot today at https://square.link/u/7fUV3Ooz

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06/15/2026

Image of the Week
A color view of Roanoke Memorial Hospital's West Pavilion in Roanoke, Virginia. William Hamilton Flannagan was administrator of the hospital when the $15 million, 14-story West Pavilion was completed. The Roanoke Memorial Hospital sign was installed upon completion of the hospital, which was illuminated at night, and was a Roanoke landmark until it was replaced in 1999.

See this photograph and more in our digital collections – http://hswv.pastperfectonline.com/

06/13/2026

Tomorrow at 3pm, join us for Music for the Museum: A Concert for Collections at Heights Community Church.

Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music and stories from Roanoke's cultural past while supporting the preservation of our region's history. Tickets are just $10 and available at the door.

We hope to see you there!

06/09/2026

Summer programs for kids start tomorrow!!!

First up is STEM at the Station. Kids will have the opportunity to do a "drinking water clean up experiment." Don't miss out on the fun happening at 10am at the historic Crystal Spring Pump Station. Register now at https://square.link/u/WEmWYyri.

STEM at the Station takes place on Wednesdays at 10am from June 10 to July 15. Kids on the Caboose begins later this month. Both of these programs are just $5 per kid per session.

Follow Roanoke History Museum Education for updates.

06/08/2026

Image of the Week
Shoppers are seen visiting the Market and downtown Roanoke businesses, like the Roanoke Weiner Stand, during the summer of the 1970s.

See this photograph and more in our digital collections – http://hswv.pastperfectonline.com/

06/07/2026

Want to learn how to better care for your family photographs?

There is still time to register for Preserving Your Past: Photographs, a hands-on workshop led by the Museum's Curator that will teach participants how to identify different photo types, recognize signs of deterioration, and use professional archival techniques to safely handle and store photographs.

While registration for the supply package option has closed so that materials could be ordered, a new participation-only registration option is now available. This option includes the full workshop experience and all instruction, allowing participants to learn the skills and techniques needed to preserve their own collections at home.

Participation-only registration is $42 for HSWV members and $60 for non-members. Register at https://square.link/u/7fUV3Ooz.

Space is limited and registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot.

06/06/2026

Just one week until our first Summer Saturday of the season!

On Saturday, June 13, residents of Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, Botetourt County, Bedford County, Craig County, Franklin County, Floyd County, and Montgomery County can enjoy FREE admission to both the Roanoke History Museum and O. Winston Link Museum.

Bring the whole family and explore interactive exhibits, local history, and railroad photography. There is something for visitors of all ages to discover.

This will also be your last chance to see our VA250 exhibitions, Valley of Virginia: Leader in Liberty and Western Virginia Tribal Nations: Preserving Culture, Identity, and Traditions. These exhibitions opened in January 2025 as part of the kickoff of Virginia's 250th commemoration, and they explore the region's role in the revolutionary era as well as the enduring histories and cultures of Western Virginia's Indigenous communities.

As a special bonus, Summer Artist-in-Residence Bryce Cobbs, joined by geospatial analyst David Massey, will be working in the museum on pieces for the upcoming Rooted in Roanoke exhibition, a partnership with the Roanoke Arts Commission and Noel C. Taylor Academy.

Mark your calendars and join us for a day of history, art, and family fun.

Our Summer Saturday Series is sponsored by Spectrum Design.