Octagon House Foundation

06/01/2026

COMING SOON THIS SUMMER!
The Smyth County History Quest is a summer-long community adventure designed primarily for children and families to explore the rich history of Smyth County in a fun and
interactive way.

Participants travel to museums, historic sites, cemeteries, and landmarks throughout the county, collecting stamps or special “quest words” at each stop as they complete their Explorer’s Guide. Along the way, participants are encouraged to share photos of their
journey on social media for chances to win weekly prizes, while completed guides can be entered for a Grand Prize drawing at the end of the summer.

The program is intended to encourage families to get out into the community, visit local museums and historic sites, and discover the stories, places, and heritage that make Smyth County unique.

Historic Locations Include:
• Smyth County Museum & Historical Society
• The Museum of the Middle Appalachians
• Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia
• The Octagon House Foundation
• Mt. Pleasant Preservation Museum
• H.L. Bonham House Tourism Center (Chamber of Commerce of Smyth County, Inc.)
• Additional historic locations throughout Smyth County

How It Works:
1. Pick up a free Explorer’s Guide at participating locations.
2. Visit participating historic locations across Smyth County while collecting stamps or special quest words at each stop.
3. Share photos of your adventure on social media for chances to win weekly prizes.
4. Return your completed guide to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing.

Get ready to explore, discover, and make history this summer! More information about the Smyth County History Quest is coming soon.

05/30/2026

Join us today at the Smyth County Museum and Historical Society, 123 East Main Street, Marion at 2:00pm, as we kick off our legacy and collections program by receiving original artifacts from the Roberta Ledgerwood Dennis Family.

05/28/2026

A Virginia Tech project is helping to breathe new life into a historic octagon-shaped house in Marion, Virginia, which has been a beloved fixture in the community for decades.

The collaboration, which includes the Center for Economic and Community Engagement, the Community Design Assistance Center at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance, and the Virginia Tech Southwest Center, is helping the Octagon House Foundation apply for grants to complete the restoration of the building, finance program development, and add a wedding and event venue, visitor’s center, and lodging and dining services.

Read more: Link in comments.

05/01/2026

04/26/2026

Now streaming.

This week, we head into Smyth County to a place most people pass without a second thought…

where a house still stands long after everything around it faded away.

The story of Abijah Thomas, the Octagon House, and the town that once thrived along the Holston River.

Along the way, I also had the chance to talk with Derek Orr from the Octagon House Foundation about what’s being done to preserve the house… and what the future might look like.

Some things don’t disappear…

they just get harder to see.

Link In Comments>>>

04/13/2026

Thank you for the great turnout at the Annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser Friday night. A special thank you to all the volunteers who made this possible.
If you would like to become a volunteer, send us a message and we'll send you the forms. Again, thank you all!

04/10/2026

The sauce is almost ready, hundreds of desserts are ready for you to choose from. Come on out to the Adwolfe Fire Hall for a delicious Spaghetti meal. Dine in or take it home.

04/03/2026

This time next week we will have the salads prepared and the smell of that homemade spaghetti sauce will be filling up the firehall. Then we will be cutting those homemade cakes and pies for you. Come join us next week, 4:30 until 7:00 PM.

04/01/2026

I'm not fooling you on this April Fool's Day, if you want a delicious meal on Friday, April 10th come to our spaghetti dinner!!!

01/24/2026

One week from today. Hope to see you there!!!

Come on out to the Adwolfe Fire Department on Saturday, January 31st from 9am to 2pm for the Hearts and Handmade Vendor Event. You may find something you didn’t even know you needed! The Octagon House Foundation will be selling hotdogs, sides, desserts and drinks. You can shop and eat or take it with you! Don’t miss it!