The Vinton History Museum invites the community to stop by for a tour with some new exhibits on display— photos and memorabilia from Vinton military personnel and a collection of vintage Easter bonnets and baskets. The Gish’s Mill exhibit and Historic Bible Collection remain on display as well.
The museum and the Vinton Historical Society have several special events coming up, beginning with a talk by local author Deedie Kagey, who published a new work last fall, “From Bonsack to Blue Ridge: A Historical Perspective of Roanoke County and Botetourt County Communities in Transition.” Her talk is scheduled for March 21 at 2 p.m. at the Vinton War Memorial.
Vinton’s annual Arbor Day celebration will be held at the museum this year on April 13 at 11 a.m. with the planting of a new dogwood tree.
The museum will hold its annual Dogwood Festival Open House on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Once again, the museum will be holding a yard sale fundraiser and is seeking donations for the sale which is scheduled for June 3 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. They are accepting good, saleable items, but no clothing. Donations can be dropped off during museum hours.
Other continuing fundraisers include the sale of commemorative bricks to “Preserve the Past for the Future.” Purchased bricks may be placed under the Memory Pergola, which was an Eagle Scout Project. The bricks measure 4” by 8” and cost $50.
Vinton History Museum T-shirts are also on sale for $15 during museum hours– are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The historical society participates in the Kroger Community Rewards Program.
The Vinton Historical Society welcomes new members, both individual and corporate, most recently welcoming the Blue Ridge Dental Group of Vinton. Individual annual membership dues are $15; lifetime membership is $150.
They also welcome volunteers to host tours, conduct genealogy research, do clerical work and data entry, and landscape and maintain the lawn. Jan Dickens, who put together the current military exhibit, would especially appreciate a volunteer with knowledge of members of the military from Vinton and of the vast number of military artifacts the museum possesses.
The museum houses not only historical exhibits, but family histories, William Byrd “Black Swan” yearbooks dating from 1929, scrapbooks and photographs of historic Vinton, Vinton Messenger newspaper archives from 1964 to the present, Town of Vinton historic memorabilia, and local art.
The Vinton History Museum is located at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Maple Street in downtown Vinton across from the Vinton Public Library. More information is available by calling 342-8634 or on their website at www.VintonHistoryMuseum.org. They also have a Facebook page.
