Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park Explained

Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:September 11, 2002[1]
Designated Other1 Number:101-0002
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:10 W 1st St N, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
Coordinates:36.8633°N -82.7803°W
Architect:Johnson, Charles Ralph, Sr.; Campbell, Edmund Schureman
Architecture:Queen Anne
Added:November 22, 2002
Refnum:02001362

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is a Virginia museum, run as a state park, dedicated to preserving the history of the southwestern part of the commonwealth. It is located in Big Stone Gap, in a house built in the 1880s for former Virginia Attorney General, Rufus A. Ayers. It was designed and built by Charles A. Johnson. Construction began in 1888 and was completed in 1895.[2]

The limestone and sandstone used on the exterior walls came from area quarries. Red oak lines the interior walls and ceilings. A small moat once surrounded the house.

The structure was acquired by the state in 1946 from a foundation managed by C. Bascom Slemp. Much of the museum's collection focuses on the coal boom of the 1890s; there are also exhibits dedicated to the history of Big Stone Gap and the surrounding area, as well as the story of the pioneers who migrated westward during the 18th century.[3] The museum is also the location of the Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame.[4] [5] [6]

The museum building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

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References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 5 June 2013.
  2. News: Hensley. Clayton. Big Stone Gap awaits its time on the big screen. 28 July 2014. The Knoxville News-Sentinel. 27 July 2014.
  3. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park . J. Daniel Pezzoni. July 2002 . Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying two photos
  4. Web site: WALK OF FAME, Southwest Virginia Museum. www.swvamuseum.org. 16 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Walk of Fame of Southwest Virginia. www.dcr.virginia.gov. 16 August 2018.
  6. Web site: People who shaped our culture honored on Walk of Fame. Joe Tennis . Bristol Herald Courier. 16 August 2018.