Southwest Virginia Museum State Park

A National Historic Landmark, the Southwest Virginia Museum is in an 1890s Victorian stone mansion with original oak interior. The museum's collection includes more than 25,000 pieces and state of the art exhibits telling the story of the exploration and development of Southwest Virginia from the pioneer era of the 1700s to the mining "boom and bust" era of the late 1800s. The museum also offers many interpretive and special events. The gift shop features unique items representative of the area's history and crafts made by regional artisans. The park offers facilities for meetings, weddings and other special occasions, and the charming Poplar Hill Cottage is available for overnight guests.

Hours of operation: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the museum is also open on Mondays from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. It is closed during January and February and on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.