Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. and Museum

08/28/2026

This historic photograph shows Richard D. Thompson on the left with his father Grover Cleveland (G. C.) Thompson, Jr (1925-2007) on the right. G. C. was a prominent dairy and livestock farmer and community leader who lived in Gala north of Eagle Rock. He served on the Board of Directors for the Bank of Fincastle, Dominion Bank, the Hollins Stockyard and the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors.

In the photo they are holding a bag of their hybrid corn which they developed for its resistance to disease. The sale of this locally developed Thompson Seed Corn for grain and silage allowed farmers to purchase varieties which increased their productivity and performance. Farmers didn’t have to rely solely on saving kernels of corn from year to year to plant. This demonstrates how Botetourt farmers, seed companies, and agricultural researchers contributed to the ongoing effort to improve crops and modernize agriculture throughout the twentieth century.

The image is on loan from Richard Thompson who continues to own and operate the family farm where this corn is grown. It is on display at the Botetourt Museum of History & Culture in the "Home Grown: Botetourt’s Agricultural History" exhibit.

By examining and learning the stories of local farmers a new appreciation for Botetourt’s history will be gained. Agriculture is still one of the most important businesses in Virginia. “No Farms no Food”.

08/27/2026

Tickets are already selling fast for our 2026 Founder's Day Dinner - and for good reason! We welcome Bill Barker from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, who portrays Jefferson and will be diving into Jefferson's Botetourt connections!

Click the link below or stop by the museum today and get your tickets!

An Evening with Thomas Jefferson

08/26/2026

We hope to see you on the roof this evening beginning at 6:00pm 😎

08/24/2026

On Wednesday, we'll be on the roof to hear from Rachel Nicole Edwards about the myth of Cú Chulainn from Ireland.

Contact 1772 on Main & Rooftop to make your reservations if you haven't yet, seating is not guaranteed otherwise!

08/21/2026

Although the dollar bill is printed daily and not an artifact its symbolism is historically and culturally significant.

On July 6, 1785, the dollar bill was adopted as the official monetary unit of the new United States. This helped lay the foundation for the young nation’s financial system. It contains the official seal which was approved on June 20, 1782.

There were three committees appointed to create a seal depicting all that the War for Independence meant. In 1776 the first committee of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson submitted their recommendations. It wasn’t until the Treaty of Paris that an official seal was selected. Charles Thomson, Secretary of the U. S. Congress, combined the ideas from the three committees and submitted a final proposal which was approved. It is depicted on the back right side of the American one dollar bill. This Great Seal is meant to depict to posterity all that the American Revolution meant.

Shown inside the circle is an American bald eagle with the thirteen original states represented on its breast shield with 13 stripes, in the left talon holding 13 arrows and on a crest above its head holding 13 stars. The eagle’s head faces an olive branch on the right symbolizing peace. A scroll in its beak has the Latin motto “E Pluribus Unum” which translates to “out of many, one”. By facing the olive branch rather than the arrows, the eagle is meant to show that war is fought for the sake of peace.

Dollars can be found inside the donation box in the foyer of the Botetourt Museum of History & Culture since it is free to the public, we welcome donations that help us continue our mission!

08/19/2026

We know it's still sunny and hot outside, but spooky season will be here before we know it!
We are once again hosting our Haunted History tour with Historic Fincastle, Inc.

Tickets are available exclusively online! Click the link below to get yours today! These tours have previously sold out as early as September!

Join us for a walking tour of historic Fincastle and learn about some history, spooky stories, creepy legends, and more!

08/18/2026

Join us on the roof next week on the 26th as we head to Ireland for August's History After Dark!

We'll explore the legend of Cú Chulainn, one of Ireland’s most fascinating—and fearsome—mythological heroes. We’ll uncover the origins of Irish mythology, explore Cú Chulainn’s legendary battle fury and transformations, and delve into the darker themes of war, violence, and the loss of innocence hidden within his story.

The evening will also include a reading from "This World Below", from Rachel Nicole Edwards, a local author and recent graduate of Hollins University.

Call 1772 on Main & Rooftop to make your reservations today!!

08/14/2026

This precious image of a young boy herding turkeys is in the Botetourt Museum of History & Culture’s downstairs exhibit called “Home Grown: Botetourt’s Agricultural History”.

It was taken around 1930 at Marshall Etzler’s turkey farm in the Mount Union area. At the time there were several turkey and chicken farms throughout the county. For convenience there was a poultry processing plant in Troutville. The Etzler’s also raised hogs and are well known for their country hams.

This photograph is courtesy of VPISU, VCESC, DLA and is on page 62 of Debra
Alderson McClane’s book “Images of America: Botetourt County” published in 2007 by Arcadia Publishing Company. Her book includes lots of historical photographs with descriptions and is available for $26 in the Museum bookstore on Fincastle’s Main Street.

08/12/2026

We are so excited for our annual Founder's Day Dinner!
On Sunday, October 4, we will welcome renowned historic interpreter, Bill Barker, who portrays Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
This is sure to be an evening to remember!
Tickets are available at the museum and online - seating is limited, so get yours today!

An Evening with Thomas Jefferson

08/10/2026

Our August History After Dark is not too far away! And August's is one you definitely don't want to miss! Join us on the roof on the 26th beginning at 6pm!

Venture into the shadowy world of Irish mythology at this month's History After Dark. Discover the legend of Cú Chulainn, one of Ireland's greatest warriors—a hero whose terrifying battle fury gave rise to stories of monstrous transformation. Explore the origins of Irish mythology, the enduring significance of Cú Chulainn's tale, and the haunting themes of war, violence, and the loss of innocence that lie beneath the legend.

The program will also include a reading from "This World Below" by local author and recent Hollins University graduate Rachel Nicole Edwards, a powerful retelling of the Cú Chulainn myth set during the American Civil War.

Call 1772 on Main & Rooftop to make your reservations today! Space is not guaranteed otherwise!