Smyth County Museum & Historical Society

09/01/2026

We will be open until 2:30 today!

09/01/2026

TBD on the museum opening today.
Will post if we have an update!

08/31/2026

We’re excited to recognize Westlake Royal Building Products as a valued 2026 sponsor of the Smyth County Museum & Historical Society at the Silver Level! Your generosity helps make our programs, exhibits, and events possible. Thank you for investing in preserving our shared history!

Help keep local history alive! Become a sponsor of the Smyth County Museum & Historical Society today! Annual Sponsorship opportunities are available to any business or organization that has shared interest in preserving and protecting our local history. Learn more at smythcountymuseum.org/sponsorship

Westlake Royal Building Products
135 Bear Creek Road
Marion, Virginia

08/27/2026

On This Date in Smyth County History

On August 27, 1936, the Smyth County News reported on the 100th anniversary celebration of the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church.

The congregation traced its beginnings to 1836, when it was first organized as Mount Pleasant, located about eight miles east of Saltville. A new church building was dedicated in 1858 under the name Pleasant Grove, and in 1871 the congregation became known as Rich Valley Presbyterian Church.

The centennial celebration had been held a week earlier, on August 20, with Mrs. Kate Roberts of Broadford in charge of the program. Rev. G. A. Wilson delivered a historical address, former pastor Rev. John Martin spoke to the young people, and several other ministers and guests offered remarks. Special music was provided by members of the Christian Endeavor Society.

The newspaper also noted several ministers and missionaries who had gone out from the congregation over the years, reflecting the church’s influence far beyond Rich Valley during its first century.

08/26/2026

Tomorrow at 1:30PM!

Join the Royal Oak Daughters of the American Revolution at the Royal Oak Cemetery on Wednesday, August 26 at 1:30 PM for a FREE Headstone Cleaning Demonstration led by Charlie Barnette and sponsored by the Royal Oak DAR.

Learn proper techniques for safely cleaning and caring for historic headstones. Please bring a chair and wear appropriate footwear for uneven ground.

We hope to see you there!

08/24/2026

Happy Memory Monday! Smyth County students have been back in school for two week now, which has us thinking about the school days we still remember years later. Some school memories fade with time. Others stay with us for decades.

For this week’s Smyth County Remembers, we want to hear about one of yours:

What is your favorite school memory that has stayed with you?

Maybe it was a favorite teacher, a field trip, a school tradition, a funny moment with friends, a big game, a class you loved, or simply an ordinary day you still remember clearly.

Tell us the story in the comments, and be sure to let us know which school you attended!

08/22/2026

On This Date in Smyth County History

On August 22, 1985, the Saltville News-Messenger reported that the Smyth County School Board had approved a one-year agreement to send a school bus into the Tannersville community of Tazewell County.

Approximately 55 Tannersville students had chosen to attend Rich Valley schools in Smyth County. Tannersville Elementary did not offer kindergarten or grades 7–12, and in previous years Tazewell County had transported many of those students across the county line.

With the opening of school approaching, uncertainty over transportation led Tannersville parents to ask Smyth County to provide a bus. After discussions between the two school boards, Smyth County agreed to supply one bus and driver for the 1985–86 school year. Tazewell County would continue paying tuition for the students, although officials still had to settle how those payments would be collected and transferred.

The arrangement reflected Tannersville’s longstanding connection to the Rich Valley school system and showed how, in rural mountain communities, the most practical school was not always located within the same county.

08/19/2026

Sorry for the late notice, but we will open at 12:30 today!
August 19, 2026

08/17/2026

The museum will open at 12:30PM today.
August 17, 2026

08/16/2026

On This Date in Smyth County History

On August 16, 1945, the Smyth County News described the scenes of celebration that had filled downtown Marion following news of Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II.

“Real, spontaneous, overwhelming joy broke loose in Marion” around 7 p.m. Tuesday evening as cheering crowds packed the sidewalks and a spontaneous parade formed along Main Street. Soldiers and sailors carried flags at the head of a procession filled with honking automobiles, sirens, cowbells, musical instruments, and residents celebrating the long-awaited news of peace.

The celebration continued into Wednesday afternoon with another parade led by Marion’s fire truck, followed by the high school band, members of the Virginia State Guard, young bicyclists, and cars carrying local servicemen home on leave.

From the balcony of the Hotel Lincoln, a young bugler played over the crowd, while local officials watched from the Municipal Building. The newspaper reported that nearly everyone seemed to take part, concluding simply: “It was a grand celebration.”