Seventeen exhibits, ranging from mammoths to lunar missions: the Museum of the Middle Appalachians offers a broad view of Appalachian history and heritage. The natural history and cultural history exhibits have a connection to salt; their topics include geology, the Ice Age, Indigenous history, the Civil War and industrial history.
History Between the Museum and the Townscape
The Smyth County Historical Society & Museum offers another way to discover the past. Its collection includes thousands of artifacts, documents, photographs and books about the history of Smyth County and the surrounding Appalachian region. The Historical Society also hosts eight talks on local history each year. The series runs from April through October.
In the Downtown Chilhowie Historic District, commercial buildings tell the story of the town’s changing fortunes: most date from 1900 to 1930. In Marion, the Marion History Experience is a historic walking tour through downtown Marion, Virginia. The two perspectives emphasize different things—here, the commercial district and its buildings; there, downtown history as the subject of a walking tour.
The Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia brings history to life on a 67-acre site. This open-air museum includes a restored farm, a farmhouse and eight original outbuildings; the farm illustrates 19th-century history. Also on the grounds is the restored Lindamood Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse dating from 1894. The Appalachian Trail also runs through the museum grounds, offering opportunities for hiking.
Culture, Art and Music
The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts offers learning experiences rooted in the culture and heritage of the southern Appalachians. The Ford Studios also connects art with a historic building: housed in a former Ford dealership, it features working artist studios and a gallery. The two places offer different approaches—learning connected to regional culture and artistic work in a historic setting.
The Lincoln Theatre operates year-round and presents a varied performing arts program. Song of the Mountains, a public television concert series featuring bluegrass, Americana and old-time music, puts the focus on music. The cultural offerings range from stage performances to a series centered on particular music genres.
Lake, Landscape and Trails
The 108-acre Hungry Mother Lake in Hungry Mother State Park provides habitat for numerous sport fish species. These include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass, spotted bass, crappie, catfish, carp, sunfish, rock bass, muskellunge and walleye. Nature enthusiasts can find a different highlight at the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Smyth County: golden eagle sightings have been reported there over the years. The Blue Ridge Discovery Center covers about 12 acres and is located in Smyth County, outside Konnarock.
The trails also vary in scale and route. The Back of the Dragon stretches 32 miles between Marion and Tazewell, passing through Hungry Mother State Park and along the lake. The Salt Trail is an approximately 11-mile multi-use recreational trail from Saltville to Glade Spring. Together with the section of the Appalachian Trail on the Settlers Museum grounds, these routes offer different ways to experience the landscape on foot or along a longer route.
Discover more destinations: Marion, Chilhowie, Colonial Heights, Caroline County, Petersburg, Salem, Norfolk, Orange County.
For the broader travel overview: Virginia.
