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Salem Museum in Salem, Virginia

Preserving 300+ years of history, art, and sports in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

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Reconstruction Era Hidden History Talk

Discover a secret chapter in Virginia’s Reconstruction era history with “Readjusting the Old Dominion: The Forgotten Rise and Fall of Virginia’s Readjuster Movement.” Admission is free for this speaker series talk on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Salem Museum.

This Salem Museum Speaker Series lecture will immediately follow the Museum’s annual meeting of the membership. Museum members are urged to arrive at 7:00 PM to elect Officers and Directors for the upcoming year. The speaker talk will begin after the meeting.

In this talk, Hunter Haskins, the Museum’s Assistant Director, will share the powerful story of the Readjusters, a long-forgotten 1880s Virginia political movement that achieved remarkable socio-economic reforms for whites and African Americans. Formed to battle the Commonwealth’s crippling debt crisis and its impact on public services, the Readjusters oversaw a transformative period in the state’s educational and infrastructural development that welcomed and benefitted citizens of all races and backgrounds. However, following four years of political dominance from 1879-1883, the movement met a history-making end that, for more than a century, was stricken from Virginia history books. Who were these incredible Readjusters, and what legacy do they leave us today?

Hunter Haskins is the Assistant Director of the Salem Museum. A graduate of Roanoke College, he double majored in History and Political Science while pursuing a concentration in Public History. Before coming to the Museum, Hunter taught history and epistemology at the Carlisle School in Axton, and worked as a docent, interpreter, and blacksmith for Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute and Museum.

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Salem Rescue Squad History on Display

Now open in our Main Gallery

The Salem Museum is pleased to unveil its latest exhibit, “Service Through Knowledge: The History of the Salem Rescue Squad.” Now open in the Main Gallery through early Spring. This captivating display honors the dedication and valor of the men and women who have served in the nation’s oldest all-volunteer rescue squad.

Visitors will embark on a journey through over ninety years of Salem history, exploring the operations of this vital institution and the remarkable individuals who have made lasting contributions to the community through their selfless service. The exhibit showcases an array of photographs and unique artifacts, highlighting the evolution of rescue techniques and equipment while emphasizing the squad’s crucial role in Salem’s safety and well-being.

Guests are also invited to share their personal experiences of how the Rescue Squad has touched their lives by leaving a note in the exhibit. For those inspired by the squad’s noble mission, information about joining this exceptional group of volunteers will be available.

Minimal Homeschool Days Flyer October 2024

Homeschool Days Return 

The Salem Museum is pleased to announce the return of Homeschool Days for the 2024-25 school year. Homeschool Days will take place monthly for students ages five and up, giving students an opportunity to explore local history this semester.

Students will learn interesting stories from our past, and get to hold pieces of history in their hand. Each program will include an hour of hands-on history instruction and group discussions, followed by a scavenger hunt to encourage exploration of the Salem Museum’s exhibits. The schedule is designed to give participants an opportunity to get to know other students.

Programs will be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:00am and 2:00pm, with a new topic each month.

RSVP in advance is required. The fee is $4 per student per session. All parents/ teachers/ chaperones are free. Registration for Museum members is free. Please call 540-389-6760 or email garrett@salemmuseum.org to register.

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Through Their Eyes--9 witnesses to history

Through Their Eyes: The Moments That Made Salem

Over a year in the making, this Gallery highlights sixteen major events, dating back to 1671, that have shaped Salem and the Roanoke Valley into the community it is today. History gets personal as seen ‘through the eyes’ of men and women who lived here at the time. Visitors will experience the emotional, life-changing impact of each of these events—including the coming of the railroad, the end of the Civil War, desegregation, the Flood of ’85, and so many more. The Gallery features personal narratives, pictures, maps, artifacts, and hands-on elements.

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HOURS OF OPERATION

Open Tuesdays — Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm.

Closed on July 4; Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas; New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the day after New Years.

If the City of Salem Schools are closed for inclement weather, the Museum does not open.

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS

Located next to Longwood Park in Downtown Salem
801 East Main Street
Salem, Virginia 24153

From I-81, take exit 140 and head toward Salem on Thompson Memorial Blvd. At Main Street (US 460), turn left. Go .3 mile; the Salem Museum is located at the top of the hill on the left. Our entrance is across from the Berglund Ford service entrance. Look for the “OAKEY FIELD” sign. There is plenty of free, on-site parking.

ADMISSION IS FREE.
DONATIONS ARE
APPRECIATED!

Admission is FREE for all self-guided visitors.

Guided tours are $10 per adult age 15+, and $5 for children. For school groups and educational groups, students are $3 and chaperones are free. Group visits are available when booked at least two weeks in advance.

The Salem Museum & Historical Society is an independent nonprofit organization preserving and celebrating the history of Salem, Virginia, founded in 1802, as well as the surrounding areas.

  • Sun - Mon: Closed
    Tue - Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Sun - Mon: Closed
    Tue - Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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