Exterior of mansion

Since 1948, Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park has been telling the story of Southwest Virginia, from its geologic genesis to its rich and storied culture. The museum is housed in an 1890s Queen Anne-styled mansion located in Big Stone Gap. The structure boasts a limestone and sandstone exterior as well as original red oak trim on the interior. It houses thousands of artifacts that chronicle the exploration and development of Southwest Virginia during the pioneer exploration period of the 1700s and the coal boom of the 1890s.

In addition to the museum, the park features the Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame, a permanent outdoor exhibit. It showcases the region’s heritage and 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.

History

Rufus and Victoria Ayers on the grounds

The mansion was built by former Virginia Attorney General Rufus Ayers. Construction was started in 1888 and completed in 1895. Thirty-four years later, C. Bascom Slemp, a congressman and private secretary to President Calvin Coolidge, purchased the home. Slemp and his sister, Janie Slemp Newman, loved Southwest Virginia, its history, people and culture. They collected many artifacts from the area and around the world.

Interior of mansion

Before Slemp’s death in 1943, he established the Slemp Foundation, which donated Slemp’s and Newman’s collection to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1946 when the state purchased the mansion and adjacent carriage house.

The state officially dedicated the museum in 1948.

Collection

The museum features a collection of more than 60,000 pieces, of which only a fraction is on display at any given time. Displays tell the story of the exploration and development of Southwest Virginia from the pioneer era of the 1700s to the mining "boom and bust" era of the late 1800s.

Early museum visitors

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.

Museum displays

Braving the unknown, 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, and an interactive kiosk features life and labor in the coal camps.

Photo courtesy of Sue Leon, Travel Writer

Programs and events

Attendees of the Lunch on the Lawn program

Southwest Virginia Historical State Park hosts a wide range of educational programs and special events throughout the year, from bird workshops and bus tours to a Children’s Music Camp and the Lunch on the Lawn Music Series. Some of the park’s signature events include:

• A Stitch in Time Annual Quilt Show: April 1-May 31. More than 100 quilts from the community and the museum's collection are displayed throughout the museum.
• The Gathering in the Gap Music Festival: Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The festival celebrates the rich tradition of old-time and bluegrass music found in Southwest Virginia. Activities include competitions, workshops, jams and performances by regional and national musicians.
• Festival of Trees: Mid-Nov. through Dec. 31. More than 80 trees, decorated by members of the community's civic organizations, businesses and schools, are displayed throughout the museum.

To learn more about the park’s events, click here.

Festival of Trees

Visiting

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is a one- to two-house drive from Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is open from March through Dec., with varying operating hours depending on the time of the year. Click here for more information.

Admission to the museum costs $3 for ages 6-12 and $5 for ages 13 and up. Annual passes are available. Learn more here.

For guests interested in overnight accommodations, the park features Poplar Hill Cottage, a furnished three-bedroom, two-bathroom garden-themed cottage that sleeps up to eight guests. The cottage can be rented by calling the park office at 276-523-1322.

Poplar Hill Cottage