Roanoke History Museum Education

10/22/2026

Every building in downtown Roanoke has a story.

The Hotel Roanoke opened its doors in 1882. The Basilica of St. Andrew has stood tall for nearly a century. And some of the buildings that make up City Market predate the city!

What's your favorite place to explore in downtown?
Where you go most often?

10/19/2026

Have you seen our Kindly Mirrors, interactive exhibit yet?

This exhibit is the Floyd County photography of Richard Miles “Dick” Shank and Gertrude Vest Shank portraying “…ordinary objects as they will be reflected in the kindly mirrors of future times…”

Guests are invited to join the story by reflecting and writing what they see through their own lens of the exhibit.

10/15/2026

In our house we just called it, The Star.

The Star on Mill Mountain has been shining since 1949. Generations have driven up that mountain to watch it shine, picnic, and take in that view.

Have you been this year? Do you plan to go as the leaves turn?

10/06/2026

We've got class tomorrow :)

Don't forget to sign up for Homeschool Days this month. Our boomtowns are growing and we've got problems to solve! 🔍

Register here:
October 7: https://square.link/u/Xys2knnj
October 14: https://square.link/u/vwzFlEDX
October 21: https://square.link/u/xdowaWle

10/05/2026

Hello! ☺️

10/02/2026

Everyone belongs at the Roanoke History Museum! 🏛️✨

We want to ensure all of our visitors have a comfortable, engaging, and enjoyable experience.

If you or a loved one experience sensory overload or just need a little extra support during your visit, we have Sensory Kits available to borrow for free! 🎒❤️

Each kit is designed to help regulate and comfort, featuring:
- Noise-reducing headphones to soften loud spaces
- Fidget toys for tactile grounding
- Communication cards to assist with expression and needs
- Sunglasses to soften bright or high-contrast lighting

Simply stop by the Museum Front Desk / Gift Shop upon your arrival to ask a staff member for a kit.

We can't wait to welcome you!

09/30/2026

Interested in buying books AND knowing the funds are going to a good cause?

We've got thousand's of books for your viewing and purchasing pleasure.

Stop by this Saturday!

09/28/2026

The learning continues with October's Homeschool Days!

Register HERE: https://square.link/u/Xys2knnj

08/27/2026

Come out this Saturday for Free Local Summer Saturdays. Check our new exhibits and make a cyanotype!

One more Local Saturday! ☀️

Join us next Saturday, August 29, for the final Local Saturday of the season. Residents of Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, Botetourt, Bedford, Craig, Franklin, Floyd, and Montgomery counties can enjoy FREE admission to the Roanoke History Museum and O. Winston Link Museum with proof of residency.

Explore the galleries, see Artist-in-Residence Bryce Cobbs creating in the Trackside Gallery, and from 1-3pm, join Museum Educator Jennifer Daniel to learn about cyanotypes and create your own for $3.

Don't miss our final Local Saturday of the summer!

Sponsored by Spectrum Design.

08/26/2026

One week until Fall 2026 Homeschool Days kicks off—and this is going to be a good one! 🏘️

We’re digging into the story of how Appalachian towns grow: Why here? Why a town? What makes a little settlement BOOM?

But we aren’t just going to talk about it. We’re going to build our own.

What does your town make? Candy? Great.
Is your town plagued by a dragon? Perfect.
Maybe your town sits beside a volcano and is run by kittens.

Your town can be anything you imagine.

But there’s one thing every town—real or imaginary—has in common: challenges to overcome.

As we explore how real Appalachian communities developed, students will use what they learn to make decisions, solve problems, and watch their towns grow from week to week.

History + imagination + problem-solving + a little bit of chaos. What could be better?

📅 Wednesdays | Fall 2026 Homeschool Days
🔗 Register at the link below!

Building a Boomtown is a hands-on simulation series where students use real Appalachian towns as case studies to build a town of their own. Each week, we’ll explore a piece of the story—then use what we discover to make decisions about our growing boomtown. Each session offers a new challenge, with the opportunity to keep building your town throughout the series!

Registration:
September 2- https://square.link/u/VzipVmHo
September 9- https://square.link/u/HGFsOykT
September 16- https://square.link/u/S1PBFE7M