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Located just off of Route 23 in Big Stone Gap at the corner of West First Street and Wood Avenue, the Southwest Virginia Museum reflects the rich history, culture, and industry of Southwest Virginia, at the turn of the century.

The Southwest Virginia Museum is housed in the mansion originally built by Rufus Ayers. MORE ...

 



 
swvamuseum@dcr.virginia.gov



Storytelling has been a popular way of sharing information, history and humor in this country for hundreds of years. That tradition remains strong in Southwest Virginia where there are so many stories to tell. The Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap plays a part in sharing those stories with the community and visitors alike.

Big Stone Gap's "boom and bust" era is featured in the main gallery on the first floor of the museum. Having discovered the region's extensive coal of iron ore deposits in the late 1870's, northern businessmen dreamed of turning the tiny village of Big Stone Gap into the Pittsburgh of the South. Land speculators, the coming of the railroad and the development of the mining industry transformed Big Stone Gap into a vital cultural area boasting its own newspaper, police force, hotels, banks and schools.

Galleries on the second floor tell the story of Big Stone Gap and its residents at the turn of the century. Mail-orer catalogs, photographs, radios and railroads were bringing the outside world into the everyday lives of Southwest Virginia residents.

Two of the second floor galleries chronicle the life and times of prominent local citizens and eight-term U.S. Congressman
C. Bascom Slemp.

The story of early exploration and settlement of the region is told in the third floor galleries. By the mid-1700's, settlers looking for a fresh start were traveling south out of Pennsylvania and Maryland into the valley of Virginia. In 1775 Daniel Boone pushed the Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap, opening the way west. The flow of immigrants into and through Southwest Virginia increased dramatically.

Braving the unknown, pioneer settlers were almost totally dependent on the land, their own skills and the contents of the wagon for their every need. Display of tools, household furnishings, quilts and early commerce tell the story of these hardy pioneers.


The Southwest Virginia Museum is a wonderful place for school, church, civic, scout and tour groups to learn about the history of Big Stone Gap and those who settled in the area. Museum staff offer programs for all ages on a regular basis, providing special activities for children during the summer and students during the school year. For more information, send your email to swvamuseum@dcr.virginia.gov, or call the museum at (276) 523-1322 for more information.

A multi-purpose room in the basement of the museum is available for meeting use (reservations required).

Take home something to commemorate your visit or find that special gift in the museum shop. All items are related to the museum, or culture and history of the region. Jewelry, books about pioneer and Victorian eras, locally made crafts and reproductions of Victorian items are just some of what the shop has to offer.

 

The Southwest Virginia Museum is housed in the mansion originally built in the 1880's by Rufus Ayers, a Virginia attorney general. The museum was acquired by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1946 from the Slemp Foundation, established by C. Bascom Slemp, private secretary to President Calvin Coolidge and a member of Congress. The museum was officially dedicated by the state in 1948. Listed as a Virginia Landmark and National Historic Place, it is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

In the late 1980's, the museum underwent extensive renovations, including the installation of new exhibits. Building upon its extensive collection, the museum tells the story of the exploration and development of Southwest Virginia and the lives of men and women who settled in and around the area.

 

Volunteers and supporters have contributed much to the museum over the years. C. Bascom Slemp established The Slemp Foundation to care for and help maintain the Seminary Church, the family cemetery and the Southwest Virginia Museum for years to come. Volunteers are always needed to help identify old photographs, lead programs, assist with office duties, help maintain the collection and conduct living history interviews. If you would like to be a volunteer, call (276) 523-1322, or stop by the museum.

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