Bath County Historical Society

Bath County Historical Society "Preserving Bath County's Past For Generations to Come"
99 Courthouse Hill Warm Springs, Virginia 2 The office staff is comprised of volunteers.

The Bath County Historical Society was formed in 1969 to preserve the history of Bath County for future generations to come. The Historical Society Museum and Research Library is located in Warm Springs, Virginia next to the Bath County Courthouse. The Museum building was originally a law office which was moved from the original courthouse located at the current Warm Springs Inn. The items in the

Museum have all been donated by friends of the Society who want to see Bath County history preserved for future generations. These artifacts are of interest to all those who visit, not only the local people, but visitors from all over the world. From antique side saddles, to period clothing, original historic photos, farm implements and tools, Civil War and Indian Artifacts, even a grand piano, there is something here to interest everyone. The Research Center and Library addition was completed in 1995 and contains a wealth of information for the researcher and genealogist. Included in the collection are materials and microfilm on Bath and Virginia history as well as information from West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. These along with family histories, both published and unpublished, have aided many visitors in their search for roots. The Society Gift Corner includes books pertaining to Bath County and area history as well as other seasonal items for purchase. They will assist you in your search for local or family histories. The museum's hours are 10am - 4pm on the following schedule:

April - October: Wednesday - Saturday
November & December: Friday & Saturday
January, February & March: Closed, but call or email for advance appointment

Admission is free. Donations are greatly appreciated to offset operational expenses. The Society publishes newsletters each year to our membership. Histories of Bath County as well as family genealogies and queries are often included in each issue. Membership is open to anyone interested in being a part of this valuable preservation effort for an annual donation of $25.00 or more, per person. A call for donations goes out in August, followed by a Patrons Party at an historic venue in September to which all active donors are invited. You are invited to stop by and explore the history of our mountain villages and its people and discover life the way it used to be. Local school groups are also invited.

05/26/2026
05/19/2026
Does anyone have any of these tokens?
05/14/2026

Does anyone have any of these tokens?

Does anyone have some of these?
05/14/2026

Does anyone have some of these?

05/09/2026

Join us as we celebrate National Preservation Month.
We’re taking time to highlight the places throughout Bath County that help tell the story of our community—its history, resilience, and evolution through generations. From schools and churches to homes and public spaces, these landmarks connect us to the people and moments that shaped the region we know today.

Hidden Valley Rockshelter

This native American archaeological site consists of an irregularly-shaped overhang approximately ninety feet by ten feet. The Hidden Valley Rockshelter is formed within the Oriskany sandstone formation and lies along the west bank of the Jackson River about twenty feet above the normal river flow.

The shelter area contains the stratified remains of human occupation from the Late Archaic (3000 B.C.) through the Late Woodland periods (A.D. 1600). The wide variety of projectile points and ceramic types found here reflects subtle shifts in several cultures through time. The excellent state of the preservation of the site’s floral remains, including cultigens and faunal materials, offers an excellent opportunity to study western Virginia subsistence patterns spanning the last 2000 to 3000 years.

Thanks for including this location on your site!
📸George Tolley | ca 1985

05/08/2026

Join us as we celebrate National Preservation Month.
We’re taking time to highlight the places throughout Bath County that help tell the story of our community—its history, resilience, and evolution through generations. From schools and churches to homes and public spaces, these landmarks connect us to the people and moments that shaped the region we know today.

Warm Springs & West Warm Springs

Beginning around 1761, the area included in Bath County’s Warm Springs and West Warm Springs Historic District arose around and near to the natural thermal springs that drew visitors for recreational, medical and social reasons and gave the communities their name. The district includes 223 contributing historic resources—among them, buildings, estates, cemeteries, and archaeological sites—and covers approximately 720 acres near the center of the county. The district encompasses the village of Warm Springs and its one-time courthouse and jail (today’s Warm Springs Inn) and various commercial buildings and houses.

Extending westward along Virginia Route 39, the district also enfolds West Warm Springs, historically an African American community settled after the Civil War, many of whose residents found work in the local resort industry.

Thanks for including this location on your site!

📸Debra McClane/2017

Address

99 Courthouse Hill Rd
Warm Springs, VA
24484

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15408392543

Website

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