Preserving 300+ years of history, arts, and sports in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains
Summer Fun for Kids!
The Salem Museum is offering four new programs this summer designed to get children ages 6-13 hooked on history. Each of these hour-long programs will be held on Saturdays and repeat on Wednesdays at 11 am and again at 2 pm. These hands-on programs will be led by Garrett Channell, the Museum’s Director of Education and Archives. All programs are FREE, but pre-registration is required. To sign up, call 540-389-6760 or email garrett@salemmuseum.org to register.
- World War II and the Roanoke Valley, June 10 and 14
- Life 200 Years Ago, June 17 and 21
- Civil War in Virginia, June 24 and 28
- Native Americans at the River, July 1 and 5
Memorial Day Weekend Event: Fallen Defenders—Past to Present
On Saturday, May 27 from 10 am to 4 pm, experience a unique display of military uniforms and Fallen Soldier Battle Crosses. The display will represent almost every major conflict in American history from the Revolutionary War through Operation Inherent Resolve. The display will be set up on the grounds of the Salem Museum and is presented by the 24th Virginia Infantry Living Historians, who will be onsite to answer questions. This event is free and open to the public. READ MORE…
Speaker Series: Protecting the lands and waters we love
The Roanoke Valley is situated in a region of great natural beauty, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy (BRLC) is working to ensure that the landscapes we love will be here to be enjoyed by generations to come. On Thursday, June 8 at 7 pm at the Salem Museum, David Perry of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy will describe the organization’s work to forever protect the lands and waters that make such a difference in our quality of life. READ MORE…
May Speaker Series: The History of the Enslaved People at Roanoke College
Through the Center for Studying Structures of Race, a team of Roanoke College faculty and student researchers led by College Historian Dr. Jesse Bucher, are learning more about the contribution enslaved people made to the College’s founding and early development. Six student researchers worked to identify the names and life histories of enslaved people who lived and worked in this region between ca. 1840 and 1865. Their research led to the identification of more than 2,500 enslaved men, women, and children in Roanoke County. Dr. Bucher’s presentation included a short documentary by the project team that describes their findings, as well as the emotions and revelations they experienced in the course of their research.
Through Their Eyes: The Moments That Made Salem
New permanent gallery traces Salem and Roanoke County history
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, hands-on elements, and augmented reality technology accessible with a visitor’s smart phone. READ MORE.
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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 COMPLEX” 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.