Historical Society of Western Virginia

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 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.

06/05/2026

Only 1 week until Embroidered Memories - register now!

Transform forgotten photographs into something entirely new. In this hands-on workshop, you will use simple embroidery techniques to embellish vintage and found images, adding texture, color, and meaning to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Whether you are an experienced maker or picking up a needle for the first time, this relaxed after-hours session invites you to reimagine the past through an artistic lens and gives you the chance to experiment, unwind, and leave with something uniquely your own.

After Hours Makers Series: Embroidered Memories
Friday, June 12, 5:30-7:30pm
$25 for non members (HSWV members use discount code during checkout)
Registration Required:

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06/03/2026

Only 1 day left to register for Preserving Your Past: Family Photographs.

Join the Museum’s Curator for a hands-on workshop focused on safely preserving your family photographs using professional archival techniques. Participants will receive archival-quality supplies to use during the session and take home afterward.

Registration closes tomorrow so there is enough time to order and prepare the specialty preservation materials included with the workshop.

Space is limited. Register now: https://square.link/u/7fUV3Ooz

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.

06/01/2026

Image of the Week
Children in 1955 are seen interacting with the bear enclosure at Mill Mountain Zoo.

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