Events and Activities
Wildlife and Landscape Management in Precontact Virginia
Archeological Society of Virginia Headwaters Chapter Speaker, September 8 at 7:00pm
Previous research on climate change and sustainability practices in the Virginia piedmont suggests that Native American people throughout the Roanoke River drainage participated in variable sustainability practices related to the hunting of white-tailed deer and the success of maize. These strategies were heavily influenced by the climate history of the region, evidenced through historic drought data. Building on the data from that project, a similar undertaking was conducted on sites in the Potomac River drainage to investigate sustainability and landscape management in another significant river drainage of the state. This presentation will cover the new results and associated interpretation for Potomac River history and relate those to the Roanoke River data. Implications of the data tie deer management, or lack thereof, to the emergence of the precolonial deerskin trade and the wildly different climate of the Potomac River valley.
Recently hired as DHR’s Western Regional Preservation Office’s Archaeologist, John Henshaw is an ABD Doctoral Candidate in Anthropology, College of William and Mary after receiving a BA and MA from the University of Virginia. Of interest in ASV terms, he received the Sandra Speiden Award for studies in Native American culture. John’s recent work has focused on climate and exchange systems on the Potomac River drainages with the interplay of shell beads and deerskins. Using the data generated by the Palmer Drought Index, he has developed a model for the interplay of climate and cultural subsistence systems and is currently expanding that model into Virginia’s southern Piedmont along the Roanoke River.
A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail
Thursday September 10, 7pm
Zoom Link HERE
Professor Mills Kelly will discuss his latest book, “A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail.” Rather than offer a narrative from the top-down, Kelly’s book aims to offer a “boots-up” perspective of the Trail’s long, people-oriented history. Working with Trail shelter registers, hiker accounts submitted to Trail clubs, and newspaper and magazine stories about the experiences of casual hikers, Kelly reveals what it was like to hike the Trail from the late 1920s through the early 2020s by answering questions such as: What did hikers eat? What kind of gear did they carry? What was their relationship to the natural world they found along the Trail? What was it like to hike as a woman, as a person of color, or as someone with a disability? And how did all those things change over the first 100 years of the Trail’s history? At the conclusion of his talk, copies of the book will be available for purchase and/or signing. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will go to the Salem Museum.
Kelly is an emeritus professor of history at George Mason University and is also the author of “Virginia’s Lost Appalachian Trail,” the story of the single largest reroute (300 miles) of the Trail in its history. In addition to being an author and popular speaker about the Trail’s history, Mills is the archivist of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, a member of the board of the Appalachian Trail Museum, and the host of the popular podcast “The Green Tunnel.”
Ghost Walk 2026
October 1-3, 6pm-8pm, tours leave every 15 minutes. TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Get tickets at the Salem Museum or online HERE
East Hill Cemetery comes alive after dark just once a year! Tour the historic graveyard and meet notable characters from Salem’s past. “Ghosts” will share captivating tales of fascinating characters from various periods of Salem’s rich history, spanning over 200 years. Each character has made an impact, whether big or small, and some stories are simply delightful. Guests will also discover surprising narratives about some of the region's most historic locations - places they may encounter in their daily lives.
These walking tours are family-friendly, fun and informative, but not scary.
Advanced tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students of any age, and free for children three and younger.
Ticket tip! The 6:15, 6:45, 7:15, and 7:45 tours tend to be less crowded. Get your tickets now to reserve your preferred tour time.
Good walking shoes are recommended, and bring a flashlight for later tours. In case of rain, the event will be held inside the Museum.
2026 marks the Ghost Walk’s 28th year and all proceeds benefit the Salem Museum.
Constitution Day Tree Planting at East Hill Cemetery
Thursday, September 17, 10:00am
200 Cedar Street, Salem, VA
The Salem Museum invites you to join them in East Hill Cemetery for a special Constitution Day tree planting near the grave of General Andrew Lewis, Salem's Revolutionary War champion!
The City of Salem will plant the tree, and in a brief ceremony honor the nation's 250th birthday and Constitution Day (which falls annually on September 17).
If you have any questions about the event, please contact Ben Nolen at bhnolen@salemva.gov.
After the ceremony, be sure to come see our featured exhibit, Andrew Lewis: Salem's Revolutionary Champion, now on display in the Main Gallery. Featuring dozens of hands-on items, interactive exhibit pieces, and more, don't miss this exploration of the Revolutionary War exploits of one of Salem's earliest Colonial era settlers.
Acting Workshop at the Salem Museum
Saturday, September 19 at 1:00pm
Actor, director, and Salem Museum Ghost Walk alum Steve Aaron will be hosting an acting workshop at the Museum! This event is free and will be open to the public.
Amateur and veteran performers alike are invited to join Aaron in sessions that will develop, enhance, and/or maintain various skills used across the performing arts. The focus of this session will primarily be on auditions and first impressions, though insights into stagecraft, performance methods, and other elements of theatre will be incorporated into the workshop.
Aaron, in addition to performing in the Salem Museum Ghost Walk, has acted, danced, or provided stage work and music to over 400 productions. He has worked with Delaurentis Entertainment Group, Carolco Studios, and the North Carolina Film Commission as extras and/or production hands on films such as Silver Bullet (1985), King Kong Lives, and Maximum Overdrive (both 1986). Additionally, Aaron is a member of the Fincastle Company Living History Interpreters, and through that work is involved with an upcoming project produced by the Discovery Channel.
Mark Your Calendar
Monthly Speaker Series
Second Thursday of each month, 7pm. January and February on Zoom. September= A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail with Mills Kelly / November= The Life of Audie Murphey with Panel Discussion / January= Law and Order for Hire in Virginia with author Phillip Gibbs / March= Splintered Shadows: Recovering a French Resistante with Marilyn Moriarty
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.
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. Tickets on sale September 1.
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.
Audie Murphey Commemorative Hike
October 17, 10am. Join us for a hike to the Audie Murphey memorial.
Pickleball Social
October 17, 4-7pm. Calling all pickleball players! Visit the Salem Museum that evening for refreshments and a chance to meet fellow competitors. Explore the Museum with your friends and meet new team members.
"Discovery Rising: Celebrating Science and Technology at Roanoke College" Book Launch
October 20, 5:30-7pm. From a church parsonage in 1842 to the 2026 opening of the Shaun McConnon Discovery Center, “Discovery Rising” tells the remarkable story of science, technology, and innovation at Roanoke College. Curated by Glatha “Maggie” Madden, a 1969 graduate of Roanoke College, “Discovery Rising” features engaging narratives and more than 200 images and illustrations that guide readers through Roanoke’s evolution alongside the advances of the modern world.
Lithics/Stone Tool Symposium
October 24, 10am-2pm. Join the Headwaters Chapter of the Archeological Society of Virginia for a day of Native American history and tool demonstrations.
Peggy Shifflett Book Talk
Coming Soon. Local author Peggy Shifflett will discuss her upcoming book and have a book signing.
Workshops with artist Matilda Wentzel
Returns in Fall 2026. Join us for arts workshops. RSVP Required. More information HERE
Annual Member Reception
November 12, 5pm; Membership Meeting 6:30pm. All members are welcome to join us for refreshments and socializing prior to our November speaker. At 6:30, hear the annual report and vote on new Board members.
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 19, 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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