Archive

This museum was conceived as a place to preserve the history of our area with a focus on the schools of Wise County. In 2002, the June Tolliver House provided Garnett Gilliam, a local teacher and historian, two rooms to display his collection of photographs, yearbooks, and other artifacts. As others made donations to the collection it was soon evident that additional space was needed. A committee was formed and James Maurice Fraley, an ardent...

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm; Sunday 12:30pm - 4pm. This log house was constructed from two separate log houses. One was built in 1769 and donated by the owner of the old Henry Dickenson farm. The other was built in 1790 and donated by the heirs of Thomas Bundy. The materials used from the 1769 Dickenson house were the oldest found in the area for a restoration project. The original builders of that...

One of the nation's most historic routes, the trail was blazed by the legendary frontiersman in 1775 and has become the route for hundreds of thousands of settlers of the western frontier. The driving tour follows the Wilderness Trail to Cumberland Gap as closely as possible....

Step back in time to the early 1900's, the construction of the 1908 Courthouse, and life in Grayson County. The Vault Museum features an exhibit of an early mountain home, barn and blacksmith shop. Old tools and farm implements are displayed. The Vault Museum is located on the first floor of the 1908 Grayson County Courthouse in what was formerly known as the Clerk's Vault Room....

Sinking Spring Cemetery: Cemetery is the final resting place for Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd, Lt. Col. W.W. Blackford, Civil War era Richmond newspaper editor Robert Hughes, and over 30 Confederate soldiers are interred in the "Unknown Confederate Dead" section of the cemetery. Brig. General John Hunt Morgan was placed in the above ground tomb for a few days, prior to being relocated in Richmond, Virginia's Hollywood Cemetery. Directly across the street from Sinking Spring...

See the beauty of a replica water powered Grist Mill plus the environmental features associated with the unusual surrounding habitat. The Mill houses a community theatre and the working mechanisms from the oldest Plantation style mill in Washington County, Virginia. Previous productions have included A Tuna Christmas, You Can’t Take It With You, Annie, Steel Magnolias, Sanders Family Christmas, and others. ...

The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail commemorates the 1780 campaign that led to the battle of Kings Mountain. The battle was a key turning point in the American Revolution when southern patriots from VA, TN, NC, SC & GA tracked down and defeated a loyalist force commanded by Major Patrick Ferguson. The commander of the patriot force, Colonel William Campbell, was from Virginia, as were 200 of his men. The OVNHT follows the primary historic...

The Mathews Living History Farm and Museum is a non-profit, historical and educational foundation which operates a circa 1900 homestead farm.  Farm animals, working tools and equipment of the period, a demonstration garden and scheduled events and activities for the family make this a wonderful place to spend the day. ...

Visit the church which was named as a memorial to Madam Russell, Patrick Henry's sister. Walk through the original portion of the church and see many beautiful features, including the magnificent stain glass windows. Tour the replica cabin of Madam Russell and enjoy stories of her tremendous influence throughout the years. The lives that Madam Russell touched are limitless, by some she is referred to as "The Mother of Methodism"....