Salem Museum in Salem, Virginia
Preserving 300+ years of history, art, and sports in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains
"Resolved to Live and Die" Documentary Screening with Panel Discussion
Salem Museum Speaker Series, Thursday June 11, 7pm
Join us for an evening of local history explored in the recent Blue Ridge PBS documentary “Resolved to Live and Die: The Revolutionary Roots of Southwest Virginia.” The event is free and open to the public. Copies of the documentary will be available for purchase after the screening and in the Salem Museum Gift Shop.
“Resolved to Live and Die” explores the pivotal role Southwest Virginians played leading up to and during the American Revolution. The documentary examines the lives and legacies of several major local Colonial figures, including Andrew Lewis of Salem, and the part they played in organizing resistance against the British in Virginia’s backwoods. Their collective actions culminated in the signing of the Fincastle Resolutions, the first official statement by colonists that promised resistance to the death against the British Crown.
Following the screening, a panel group of historians involved in the creation of the documentary will answer questions from the audience. Among the participants are: April Martin, Director, Wilderness Road Regional Museum; Jeff Briggs, Director of Interpreters, Fincastle Company Living Historians; Steve Aaron, member, Fincastle Company Living Historians; and Hunter Haskins, Salem Museum Assistant Director. The panel will be moderated by Salem Museum Executive Director Garrett Channell, who is also featured in the documentary.
Gwynn's Island Weekend
Saturday June 27, 10am-4pm; Sunday June 28, 12-4pm
Help us commemorate Andrew Lewis and other local patriots role in the Revolutionary War, when they expelled Lord Dunmore at Gwynn’s Island in 1776. Festivities include speakers, a documentary screening from Blue Ridge PBS, a new exhibit opening, and the Fincastle Company Living Historians.
More information and full schedule of events HERE
Celebrate America 250 at the Grandin
Salem Museum Speaker Series, Thursday June 11, 7pm
Join us at Celebrate Virginia 250 and America 250 at the Grandin for a fun, festive in-person bash you won’t want to miss!
The Sons of the American Revolution – Fincastle Resolutions Chapter and the League of Roanoke Artists proudly present Celebrate America 250 at the historic Grandin Theatre. Artists, historians, and living-history interpreters gather for an evening of Revolutionary-era reenactors, themed America the Beautiful artwork, and the film Resolve to Live or Die. The program concludes with a panel discussion exploring how art, storytelling, and history bring the spirit of the American Revolution to life for today’s audience.
Event is free but RSVP required.
Reserve your spot and see the full schedule HERE
New Summer Exhibit Coming Soon!
On Display in the Feature Gallery beginning in June
Visit us this summer to see the official City of Salem VA250 exhibit about Andrew Lewis, William Fleming, and our local ties to the American Revolution!
On The Map: History of Virginia Along Bikecentennial Route 76 Explored Through Maps
On Display Now on the Ground Floor
local history to historic maps of the state of Virginia. The unifying theme
of the selected local history is transportation as all stories take place on
or near Bicycle Route 76. Created 1976 to celebrate the Bicentennial of
the United States, Route 76 spans the continental United States –
guiding cyclists from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. This exhibit
focuses on the route in Virginia. It is highlighted in red with the location
of where the story happened being marked by a bicycle on all maps.
https://bike76-va.vt.domains/home/
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.
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Sun - Mon: Closed
Tue - Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Sun - Mon: Closed
Tue - Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM