The grounds of the museum offer a variety of sights as necessary and diverse as those found inside the museum. Both the natural and man-made worlds are represented. Artifacts as well as native and cultivated plants combine to beautify the grounds. As you stroll the grounds, you will find numbered posts (1-11) that designate each stop noted below.

Enjoy your walk!

The Southwest Virginia Museum was originally the private residence of Rufus Ayers, an attorney general of Virginia from 1886-1890. Construction of the mansion was completed in 1895. Craftsmen labored on the exterior of the building for a wage of seventeen and a half cents an hour. The exterior of the building is limestone and sandstone. The limestone is the lighter grayish stone, while the sandstone is much darker and brownish in color.

Several features stand out as you observe the exterior walls. The cornerstones are marked with a lattice pattern, unlike the rough stones used elsewhere. You may also see evidence of a two-story, red oak porch that once covered the exterior. Flat rows of stone and iron supports are all that remains of this porch. Due to structural instability the porch was removed many years ago.

The museum is honored to be listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

These stones were part of the three-building complex that served as the public school for Big Stone Gap for many years. The dated blocks were part of the main building and the words Public School were written over the main entrance.

The complex, which stood approximately one-half mile east of the museum on Wood Avenue, was torn down in the 1970's.

The Carriage House originally stored carriages and horses for the family and was built at or about the same time as the mansion. Later, the Carriage House served as a residence for the museum curator.

In 1981, the structure was declared unstable and was no longer used as a residence. The building was slated to be torn down until funds were made available to restore it. The house is now used to store museum artifacts not on display. These artifacts, however, are used for special exhibits.