Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum

Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum SGHM is dedicated to public understanding of Germanic Heritage of the Shenandoah Valley. We• exhib

On April 2, five very energetic ladies worked around the George Hottel chimney and foundation to rake, clip, mow and spr...
04/03/2025

On April 2, five very energetic ladies worked around the George Hottel chimney and foundation to rake, clip, mow and spray the accumulated grasses and weeds. Unfortunately, deterioration of the fireplace and stone walls of the cellar continues.

03/14/2025

Reconnect with your Heritage ...We will try again! We hope it won't rain (or snow) this time around!
WORKDAY MARCH 29 at 9 AM - ?
Your ancestors’ homes are in need of grooming. Please join us for a day of fellowship and work at 11523 Back Rd, Toms Brook.
Needs at the Keller House: cleaning out flower beds, cleaning out the spring box (if warm), cleaning inside the house, removing small trees and shrubs from the ice house foundation and around the Mill House.
Needs at the Hottel chimney, foundation and Spring House: cleaning up debris that has collected.
What to bring: gloves, waterproof boots, clippers, chain saws or whatever you
are good at!
“Many hands make light the work.” Can’t come or unable to work? Send
children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends!
RSVP to Melissa Wright (call or text 540-325-8853)

02/08/2025

Reconnect with your Heritage
WORKDAY FEBRUARY 22ND 9 AM - ?
Your ancestors’ homes are in need of grooming. Please join us for a day of fellowship and work at 11523 Back Rd, Toms Brook.
Needs at the Keller House: cleaning out flower beds, cleaning out the spring box (if warm), cleaning inside the house, removing small trees and shrubs from the ice house foundation and around the Mill House.
Needs at the Hottel chimney, foundation and Spring House: cleaning up debris that has collected.
What to bring: gloves, waterproof boots, clippers, chain saws or whatever you are good at!
“Many hands make light the work.” Can’t come or unable to work? Send children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends!
RSVP to Melissa Wright (call or text 540-325-8853)

Another room has been painted in the Keller House and is now ready to showcase new exhibits. Outside, the bed in front ...
11/07/2024

Another room has been painted in the Keller House and is now ready to showcase new exhibits. Outside, the bed in front of the stone wall has been cleared of debris. Holes in the lawn have been filled and dead foliage has been removed.

09/21/2024

OOPS! This should have been shared a month ago.
Annual Meeting, August 2-3, 2024: We were fortunate to have our guest speaker join us on both days. On Friday Mike Kehoe, historian and archeologist, spent the afternoon at the Keller House discussing the Civil War artifacts found on the property. He had spent hours beforehand setting up an exhibit of newly discovered objects along with some items (camp stove, cannon balls, horse bits with the insignia US) which have been in storage in the Loom House.
At the conclusion of the business meeting on Saturday, guest speaker Mike Kehoe talked about the archeological work that was done in the fall of 2023. He shared a slide presentation which can be seen on this site:
https://youtu.be/QZAXw91g-gA?si=lOm8uf1vZg_-0roO

We made lye soap the "old" way at the museum. However, we did purchase ready-made lye instead of leaching it out of woo...
09/21/2024

We made lye soap the "old" way at the museum. However, we did purchase ready-made lye instead of leaching it out of wood ashes! Everyone went home with their soap to allow it to cure for a few weeks before using.

08/04/2024

For those of you who missed the Annual Meeting, please know that it was one of the best that has been held. ..so much friendly conversation, a great presentation by the guest speaker, and a delicious meal. Plan now for next year's meeting on August 1 & 2.

Call 540-896-2129 and leave a message. Your questions about registration will be answered. On the day of the workshop ...
08/04/2024

Call 540-896-2129 and leave a message. Your questions about registration will be answered. On the day of the workshop we will break for lunch while the lye solution cools so bring a bag lunch or go to the nearby truck stops for good fast food.

07/23/2024

Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum
The annual Hottel-Keller reunion will be held on Friday, August 2 and Saturday August 3. The public is welcome to visit the Hottel Keller property, 11523 Back Road, Toms Brook on Friday from 12 to 3. The museum will be open and we will be demonstrating the bake oven.
The Hottel Keller Annual Meeting will be held at the St. Luke Lutheran Parish Hall, 923 Back Road, Woodstock on Saturday August 3 at 10 a.m. Guest speaker, Mike Kehoe, historian will discuss the Civil War artifacts recently found on the property. The cost to attend is $30 and includes a meal. Deadline for registration is July 30th. Please call 703-203-9665 to register.

07/12/2024

Due to the possibility of uncomfortably high temperature and humidity, we have cancelled our workday scheduled for Saturday, July 13.

05/14/2024

Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum (11523 Back Road, Toms Brook, VA) will host a Fiber Day on June 1 starting at 11:00 AM until 2 PM. The public is invited to come see spinning, weaving, knitting, etc. Better yet, bring a project and join us in the fun. Bring a bag lunch.
The Museum's outdoor bake oven will be in operation and the bread will come out of the oven midday. The museum will be open also.

Wreaths were placed on veterans' graves in the Hottel Keller cemetery as well as in the newer Keller cemetery. Two Revo...
12/17/2023

Wreaths were placed on veterans' graves in the Hottel Keller cemetery as well as in the newer Keller cemetery. Two Revolutionary War soldiers and several Civil War soldiers were honored in this part of the cemetery.

Address

11523 Back Road
Toms Brook, VA
22660

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