GENERAL INFO: The museum is housed in a mansion built in the 1880s by Rufus Ayers, a Virginia attorney general. The museum was bequeathed to the commonwealth in 1946 by C. Bascom Slemp, private secretary to President Calvin Coolidge and a member of the U. S. Congress. The museum was officially dedicated by the state in 1948. It features a collection comprised of more than 20,000 pieces, about one third of which is on display at any given time. The museum chronicles the exploration and development of the region during the 1890s coal boom, as well as the pioneer period. It offers activities for kids, scout and school programs, workshops, an annual Festival of Trees program, a quilt show, a music festival and outdoor exhibits. The museum sells archival supplies and offers the opportunity to have pictures of collection pieces copied, as well as copies of reference files. Also offered is a unique gift shop and a Victorian Parlor Conference Room available for rent by calling the museum. Click here to download a PDF document (360k) that further describes the museum.
Hours of operation: Memorial Day-Labor Day: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. After Labor Day-December 31: Same as above, except closed Mondays. Also closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days and the months of January and February. The museum offers special group rates and annual passes.
AT-A-GLANCE: The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: The museum
is in Big Stone Gap, off U. S. 23, at the corner of W. First Street North and Wood
Avenue. It is 14 miles south of Norton and 35 miles northwest of Kingsport,
Tenn. The facility is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Neighboring areas
of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina are only a one to two hour drive
away. Its address is 10 West First Street North, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 9 hours; Richmond, 7 hours; Virginia Beach/Tidewater, 9 hours; Roanoke, 4 hours.
Click here for a Google map.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: Poplar Hill Cottage is the perfect mountain getaway. The quaint, garden-themed cottage, located in historic Poplar Hill, is furnished with reproduction furniture. It has three bedrooms, two full baths, a kitchen and an ample living area. The cottage sleeps up to six people.
You’ll find tasteful furnishings as well as a microwave, refrigerator, oven, dishes, cooking utensils, silverware, kitchen towels and glassware. Towels and linens, including mattress covers, pillows, blankets, sheets and pillow cases, are also included. There’s no phone, but most cell phones work here. A TV and DVD player are included.
Check-in is 3 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. There is an overnight pet fee. No smoking. Click here for overnight accommodation fees. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance in person or by calling (276) 523-1322 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Full payment must be received by the Southwest Virginia Museum within 14 days after the reservation is made. Visa and MasterCard are accepted over the phone, and checks and money orders are acceptable. A full refund is made if the cancellation is made at least a month before the arrival date, but a $20 fee is charged for cancellations made less than a month beforehand.
For information on availability of other parks' overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for overnight stays.
CABINS: Poplar Hill Cottage - see above.
TRAILS: The museum is an Audubon Bird Sanctuary, and many various songbirds can be seen on the grounds. A permanent outdoor exhibit, the Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame, showcases the region’s heritage. The exhibit advances the knowledge, awareness and appreciation of renowned Southwest Virginians, past and present, who have made significant contributions to the commonwealth, the nation and the world.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: The visitor center and gift shop feature museum exhibits as well.
NATURE AND HISTORY PROGRAMS: The museum offers a variety of workshops, children’s activities, musical offerings and interpretive programs throughout the year. Programming highlights include:
The museum also offers two new rotating exhibits each year, and archival services, including a new virtual exhibit room, are available. As well, the museum’s Victorian Parlor Conference Room can be rented for meetings and social occasions. Visit the Friends of the Museum website for more information about museum programs and services. Click here or call (276) 523-1322 to request a calendar of events.
Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Wilderness Road State Park, Lee County. Natural Tunnel State Park, Scott County (camping). John Fox, Jr., Museum, Harry Meador Coal Museum, Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama and the June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap. Virginia Heritage Music Trail.
PICNIC SHELTERS: Picnic tables are available.
ACCESSIBILITY: The museum is not yet accessible. There are plans to install lifts to two of the floors. There is handicapped parking and a sidewalk that leads you to the museum. The restroom in the museum in not accessible but, if requested, staff will make the restroom in the adjacent carriage house (not open to the public) available to handicapped patrons. From the handicapped parking, wheelchair visitors may visit most of the grounds, which are grassy and flat. During summer, some interpretive programs are held on the museum grounds. Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.
HISTORY: The museum tells the story of the 1890s coal boom and chronicles early exploration and settlement of the region. By the mid-1700s, 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 southwestern Virginia increased dramatically.
Braving the unknown and constantly facing the threat of Indian attacks, pioneer settlers were almost totally dependent on the land, their own skills and the contents of their wagon for their every need. Displays of tools, household furnishings, quilts and early commerce tell the story of these hardy pioneers. There are also displays about the area's coal mining booms and busts, there's an interactive kiosk about life and labor in the coal camps.
FRIENDS GROUP: The Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum is a 501c(3) organization. As a Citizens Support Organization (CSO), it identifies and promotes activities to conserve, enhance, and interpret cultural and historic resources of the museum. Click here to learn more about the group and its activities.
