Events and Activities
"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.
Saturday June 27:
10am-4pm- Fincastle Company Living Historians displays
11am- "1776, 1976, 2026: How We Remember" talk with Dr. Robert Willingham of Roanoke College
2pm- Documentary screening of "Resolved to Live and Die: The Revolutionary Roots of Southwest Virginia"
Sunday June 28:
12-4pm- Fincastle Company Living Historians displays
2pm- "The Battle of Gwynn's Island: Causes and Legacy" talk with Garrett Channell in uniform as General Andrew Lewis
All events free and open to the public.
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
Andrew Lewis at the Salem Fair
July 4 and 5
Visit the Salem Museum booth to meet Andrew Lewis, and learn more about Salem's role in the Revolutionary War.
Mark Your Calendar
Monthly Speaker Series
Second Thursday of each month, 7pm. January and February on Zoom. May= Folk Tales Unpacked with Let Me Tell Ya! / June= "Resolved to Live and Die" Documentary Screening with Panel Discussion / September= A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail with Mills Kelly
Gwynn's Island Weekend
June 27-28. Commemorate the Battle of Gwynn's Island, when Gen. Andrew Lewis expelled Lord Dunmore from Virginia, with a weekend of living history and exhibitions.
Celebrate America 250 at the Grandin
July 1, 5pm reception & 7pm documentary begins. Join Salem Museum, Fincastle Resolutions Chapter of the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution, Blue Ridge PBS, Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge, and League of Roanoke Artists at the Grandin Theater for a night of art and history. There will be an art exhibit, artifact displays, and the Fincastle Company Living Historians on site. The screening will also be followed by a Q&A to accompany the documentary.
Headwaters Chapter of the Archeological Society of Virginia Monthly Meetings
Second Tuesday of July, September, and November; 7pm. Free and open to the public. Enjoy monthly speakers on topics of local archeology.
Jazz in July
July 18, 3:30pm. Exclusively for Bronze Star Members and up. Enjoy refreshments and beverages on our rooftop patio as you experience the music of Longwood Park's annual summer jazz concert.
Peggy Shifflett Book Talk
Coming Soon. Local author Peggy Shifflett will discuss her upcoming book and have a book signing.
Pickin' in the Park
August 15. Exclusively for Bronze Star Members and up. Enjoy refreshments and beverages on our rooftop patio as you experience the music of Longwood Park's annual summer bluegrass concert.
Workshops with artist Matilda Wentzel
Returns in Fall 2026. Second and Fourth Tuesdays Monthly. Join us for arts workshops. RSVP Required. More information HERE
Ghost Walk 2026
October 1-3. The annual Ghost Walk returns to East Hill Cemetery. Join us for a fun, family friend walk through the Cemetery to meet ghosts from Salem's past.
The Cherokee of S.W. Virginia: Then and Now
October 10, 2pm. Come learn about the role the Cherokee play in Virginia's 250 celebrations. See local artifacts used in everyday life from S.W. Virginia thousands of years ago. And learn about the difficulties Virginia's history presents in finding its Cherokee Ancestors, but also how you can honor your family's oral tradition of having Cherokee ancestry.
Gingerbread Festival 2026
December 5, 10am-2pm. The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Festival returns to Longwood Park with the annual Gingerbread House Competition on display inside the Museum.
Wreaths Across America
December 12, 12pm. Join the Fort Lewis Chapter NSDAR to honor local veterans. A ceremony will take place, then community members are invited to help lay wreaths on graves in East Hill and East Hill North cemeteries.
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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
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