Historic village street scene painting.

Salem Museum in Salem, Virginia

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

Victory Stadium: Ending segregation in sports.

Victory Stadium: How a Lawyer, a Minister, and Twenty Football Players Helped End Segregation in Virginia and Professional Sports

Thursday, February 13 at 7:00pm at Roanoke College's Logan Gallery, inside the former Farmers National Bank building

In August 1961, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Colts were scheduled to play a pre-season football game at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, Virginia. However, a Virginia statute required that seating for the contest be segregated. In response to the decision by local organizers and officials to sell tickets to the game on a segregated basis, a local civil rights lawyer and a local minister worked together to bring national attention to the injustice of the law by organizing the first successful civil rights boycott of a professional sporting event.

Based on his upcoming journal article, Professor Alex Long of the University of Tennessee College of Law will deliver the talk a talk on the incredible significance of this civil rights milestone. This Speaker Series talk will be held February 13, 2025 at 7:00pm on the Roanoke College campus. It will be in the ground floor Logan Gallery of the former Farmers National Bank building. The talk is free and open to the public.

Parking for this event is available in the following Roanoke College parking lots: P10, P11, P14 and P28. This event is a joint presentation of the Salem Museum & Historical Society, the Historical Society of Western Virginia, the Roanoke College Anthropology Concentration, the Roanoke College Center for Studying Structures of Race, and the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation.

 

Salem Rescue Squad ALS patch.

Salem Rescue Squad History on Display

On display in our Main Gallery

“Service Through Knowledge: The History of the Salem Rescue Squad” is 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.

Homeschool Days at Salem Museum: RSVP required

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 [email protected] to register.

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Collage of historical and contemporary figures.

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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