National Sporting Library & Museum

National Sporting Library & Museum The National Sporting Library and Museum is dedicated to preserving, promoting and sharing the literature, art, and culture of equestrian and field sports.
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https://nationalsporting.org/
The National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the literature, art, and culture of equestrian, angling, and field sports. Founded in 1954, the Library has over 20,000 books dating from the 16th–21st centuries. The Museum houses a permanent collection of over 1300 pieces and hosts exhibitions of Americ

an and European fine sporting art. Information is shared through exhibitions, lectures, seminars, educational programs, publications and special events. The NSLM is proud to welcome researchers, scholars, and members of the community to explore our collections. For more information, visit www.nationalsporting.org.

Just two weeks until the NSLM Polo Classic Presented by MARS EQUESTRIANβ„’! πŸ‡ Planning to join us? Don't wait; online tick...
08/31/2026

Just two weeks until the NSLM Polo Classic Presented by MARS EQUESTRIANβ„’! πŸ‡

Planning to join us? Don't wait; online ticket sales end this Friday, September 4, leaving only General Admission tickets available at the gate.

Gather your friends, plan your tailgate, and make an afternoon of it at one of the region’s favorite sporting traditions.

🎟️ Get your tickets now before online sales close: https://www.nationalsporting.org/index.php/nslm/event_details/1541/

Sunday, September 13 | 10:30 am–3:30 pm | Great Meadow, the Plains, VA

And here are the finished paintings! 🎨 After two days of learning from local artist Gail Guirreri-Maslyk, our artists pu...
08/28/2026

And here are the finished paintings! 🎨

After two days of learning from local artist Gail Guirreri-Maslyk, our artists put their own perspectives on the equine form, resulting in a beautiful range of paintings.

Thank you to Gail and to everyone who joined us for this two-day workshop! Keep an eye on our calendar for more programs like this: https://www.nationalsporting.org/index.php/nslm/events_calendar/year/month

This Sunday, pick up some charcoal and spend an afternoon drawing in the Museum with local artist Patty Craighill! 🎨 Com...
08/27/2026

This Sunday, pick up some charcoal and spend an afternoon drawing in the Museum with local artist Patty Craighill! 🎨

Come participate in a charcoal drawing activity inspired by the NSLM’s current exhibitions on Sunday, August 30 from 2–4 pm. With decades of experience working in charcoal, watercolor, and oil, Patty brings a deep appreciation for the landscapes, gardens, and horse farms of Virginia’s Piedmont to her work.

Sunday Sketch is free, all materials are provided, and artists of all ages and abilities are welcome. Make plans to join us this Sunday! https://www.nationalsporting.org/index.php/nslm/event_details/1577/

🐢 Happy National Dog Day! John Emms’ "Foxhounds and a Terrier in a Stable Interior" captures a whole kennel full of cani...
08/26/2026

🐢 Happy National Dog Day!

John Emms’ "Foxhounds and a Terrier in a Stable Interior" captures a whole kennel full of canine personalities. Come see these four-legged favorites for yourself, currently on view at the NSLM!

John Emms (English, 1844-–1912)
Foxhounds and a Terrier in a Stable Interior (detail), 1878
oil on canvas, 39 x 52 inches
National Sporting Library & Museum,
Gift of Felicia Warburg Rogan, 2008

🎨 Look at all the progress our artists have made in Day 1 of our equine oil painting workshop with Gail Guierri-Maslyk! ...
08/25/2026

🎨 Look at all the progress our artists have made in Day 1 of our equine oil painting workshop with Gail Guierri-Maslyk! We can’t wait to see everyone's paintings come together tomorrow.

⏰ Last chance to join us! A few spots remain for Gail Guirreri-Maslyk’s two-day Equine Oil Painting Workshop, beginning ...
08/24/2026

⏰ Last chance to join us! A few spots remain for Gail Guirreri-Maslyk’s two-day Equine Oil Painting Workshop, beginning tomorrow at the NSLM.

Spend August 25–26 painting horses with acclaimed local equestrian artist Gail Guirreri-Maslyk, exploring expressive techniques, a limited palette, and a more intuitive approach to painting.

If you’ve been thinking about joining, now is the time to register!

Register now: https://www.nationalsporting.org/index.php/nslm/event_details/1643/

August 25–26 | 10 am–4 pm
NSLM Founders’ Room

08/21/2026

In our first episode of "NSLM Team in the Wild," Reid O'Connor, NSLM's Deputy Director & Chief Development Officer, participates in hound exercise with the Piedmont Fox Hounds (PFH).

Reid is a proud subscriber of PFH, the oldest fox hunt in the United States. Mounted exercise is important to getting the hounds, horses, and riders fit in preparation for the start of cubbing season. Here you can see the hounds leaving the PFH kennels lead by Huntsman Jordan Hicks, enjoying the beautiful territory, and getting some special attention from Reid!

takes us back to 1980! ✨This charming shot didn't make the cover of the July–August 1980 issue of 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘳 magazine, but i...
08/20/2026

takes us back to 1980! ✨

This charming shot didn't make the cover of the July–August 1980 issue of 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘳 magazine, but it did star in a two-page spread called "Elegance is…" by Jane Rittenhouse. The ladies pictured were "…going to Saratoga in classically designed clothes from the Limerick Junction in Middleburg, Virginia."

Can you name the well-known Middleburg women in this photo, taken at Ardarra Farm? Bonus points if you can identify the gentleman 𝘒𝘯π˜₯ the horse!

Drop your guesses in the comments β€” we'll send the full article to anyone who gets it right!

New York Times Best Selling author and everyone’s favorite wildlife ecologist Douglas Tallamy returns to the NSLM on Sep...
08/19/2026

New York Times Best Selling author and everyone’s favorite wildlife ecologist Douglas Tallamy returns to the NSLM on September 24 to discuss his latest book, π»π‘œπ‘€ πΆπ‘Žπ‘› 𝐼 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑝? π‘†π‘Žπ‘£π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Œπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘. Purchase your tickets today because this program will sell out!

Tallamy has spent decades studying the connections between plants, insects, and the wildlife that depend on them. His message is both simple and encouraging: the choices we make in our own yards can have a meaningful impact on the ecosystems around us.

Don't miss your chance to meet Douglas Tallamy and get your copy of π»π‘œπ‘€ πΆπ‘Žπ‘› 𝐼 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑝? π‘†π‘Žπ‘£π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Œπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ signed in person!

πŸ“… Thursday, September 24 | 5–7 pm
Reception, Discussion, Q&A, and Book Signing
🎟️ Register now: https://www.nationalsporting.org/index.php/nslm/event_details/1615/

Katie Bo Lillis’s π·π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘β„Ž π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ž π‘…π‘Žπ‘π‘’β„Žπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘ π‘’: 𝐴𝑛 π΄π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘†π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ has been named a semifinalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award...
08/18/2026

Katie Bo Lillis’s π·π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘β„Ž π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ž π‘…π‘Žπ‘π‘’β„Žπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘ π‘’: 𝐴𝑛 π΄π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘†π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ has been named a semifinalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award! πŸ“š

We welcomed Katie to the NSLM last August to discuss her debut book, now one of six semifinalists for the prestigious award recognizing excellence in thoroughbred sport literature. Want to read it for yourself? Get a copy here: https://national-sporting-library-museum.myshopify.com/products/death-of-a-racehorse-an-american-story?_pos=1&_sid=2af71b2dc&_ss=r

There’s another familiar NSLM connection at the awards too: Josh Pons is one of this year's judges! A two-time Eclipse Award Writer and winner of the 2024 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, Josh visited the NSLM earlier this year to discuss his award-winning book, πΏπ‘’π‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  πΉπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š πΆπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦ 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒: π΄π‘‘π‘œπ‘™π‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ƒπ‘œπ‘›π‘ , π‘€π‘Žπ‘› π‘œβ€™ π‘Šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿ, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ πΉπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘œπ‘“ π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘β€™π‘  𝑂𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘‡β„Žπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ πΉπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘š.

We’re proud to bring accomplished authors and their stories to Middleburg. Which author or book would you love to see at the NSLM next?

Address

102 The Plains Road
Middleburg, VA
20117

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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