VA, Preserving 300 Years of History

(540) 389-6760

Salem Museum in Salem, Virginia

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

When Salem Sizzles: Tales of Summers Past

Now open in our Main Gallery, through mid-September

Enjoy a fun look back in time to see how we kept our cool in the days before air conditioning, and the fun we had once the weather turned warm. Learn about graduations, June weddings, Fourth of July parades, scout camps, and lots and lots and lots of sports. And, oh – the trouble we had with the iceman! When Salem Sizzles was designed by Alex Burke, the Museum's former Assistant Director.

Summer Fun at the Salem Museum

FREE hands-on history experiences for kids ages 8-14

We are offering three Saturdays of summer fun with programs about local history. Each hour-long program features interesting stories from the past and hands-on artifacts to pique curiosity. Each program is presented twice, once at 11am and again at 2pm.

Learn about:
July 13: Colonial Virginia and the Revolutionary War
July 27: Immigration to the Roanoke Valley
August 3: The Great War and the Roanoke Valley.

Spots are limited so an RSVP is required. Call 540-389-6760 or email Garrett@SalemMuseum.org. We cannot accept RSVPs via Facebook.

For King and Country: The Life of the British Soldier

Speaker Series Talk: Thursday, August 8 at 7pm

Presented by Jeff Briggs of the Fincastle Company. TV shows and movies have spread many myths and inaccuracies about the British soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. Briggs will present little known facts about the British Army in general and the British soldier in particular. He will explain the uniform and equipment worn and used by the British soldiers.

On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In preparation for this significant anniversary, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) is encouraging programming to commemorate the Revolution. This talk is a VA250 event.

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.

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.