Salem Museum in Salem, Virginia

Preserving 300+ years of history, art, and sports in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

Salem, Virginia’s Cherokee Defense

Saturday, October 10 at 2:00pm

The Salem Museum will host Central Appalachian Cherokee Tribe CEO/Chief Ren Herdman for a special lecture. The event is free and open to the public.

Chief Herdman’s talk will explore a little-known episode in the Colonial history of the Roanoke Valley involving then-Major Andrew Lewis, the local pioneer and militia leader, and Cherokee Chief Ostenaco, the warrior, orator, and diplomat. In 1756, as the French & Indian War raged on, Chief Ostenaco and Major Lewis worked together to prepare for battle against the Shawnee. Chief Herdman will share the story Lewis, Ostenaco, and of the 130 Cherokee who camped along the Roanoke River that even caught the attention of George Washington himself.

Herdman is the CEO and principal chief of the Central Appalachian Cherokee Tribe. The first woman to hold the role, Herdman is of documented Native American descent through DNA and family history. A Southwest Virginia native, Herdman has spent years researching and documenting Native American sites in Central Appalachia and across the country. She is an educator and speaker on Native American issues whose programs explore tribes of the Central Appalachian region and across the United States.

Pickleball Social

Saturday October 17, from 4:00-7:00pm

Join the Salem Museum for a unique Fall Pickleball Social.

Socialize and learn new tips and tricks from fellow pickleballers! Bring your ID for our cash bar, snack on light hors d’oeuvres, and more!

The price of entry will be $10 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit Salem Museum.

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"Discovery Rising: Celebrating Science and Technology at Roanoke College" Book Launch

Tuesday October 20, from 5:30-7:00pm

From a church parsonage in 1842 to the 2026 opening of the Shaun McConnon Discovery Center, “Discovery Rising” tells the remarkable story of science, technology, and innovation at Roanoke College. Curated by Glatha “Maggie” Madden, a 1969 graduate of Roanoke College, “Discovery Rising” features engaging narratives and more than 200 images and illustrations that guide readers through Roanoke’s evolution alongside the advances of the modern world.

More Events Here!

Andrew Lewis: Salem's Revolutionary Champion

On Display in the Feature Gallery

Visit us this summer to see the official City of Salem VA250 exhibit about Andrew Lewis, William Fleming, and our local ties to the American Revolution!

This exhibit chronicles the local figures' lives and Lewis' lynchpin status in the course of the American Revolution. Visitors can try on garments, handle tools, and interact with materials resembling those of Revolutionary era Virginia.

Two New Permanent Exhibits

On Display Permanently on the Second and Third Floors

Slavery in Salem and the Roanoke Valley
Examine the role slavery played in the surrounding community, from its introduction during the Colonial era through Emancipation in 1865. Using dozens of local primary sources and secondary research, this exhibit constructs an image of what the practice of enslavement would have looked like in the Valley.

Into the Sunlight of Freedom: Water Street and the Black Communities of Salem
Uncover the many challenges and triumphs of Salem’s Black communities in the century following Emancipation. Read about the numerous businesses, houses of worship, schools, and organizations that spearheaded a thriving African American community in Salem.

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HOURS OF OPERATION

Open Tuesdays — Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm.

Closed on July 4; Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas; New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the day after New Years.

If the City of Salem Schools are closed for inclement weather, the Museum does not open.

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS

Located next to Longwood Park in Downtown Salem
801 East Main Street
Salem, Virginia 24153

From I-81, take exit 140 and head toward Salem on Thompson Memorial Blvd. At Main Street (US 460), turn left. Go .3 mile; the Salem Museum is located at the top of the hill on the left. Our entrance is across from the Berglund Ford service entrance. Look for the “OAKEY FIELD” sign. There is plenty of free, on-site parking.

ADMISSION IS FREE.
DONATIONS ARE
APPRECIATED!

Admission is FREE for all self-guided visitors.

Guided tours are $10 per adult age 15+, and $5 for children. For school groups and educational groups, students are $3 and chaperones are free. Group visits are available when booked at least two weeks in advance.