Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

06/25/2026

Looking for Friday night fun? MSV at Night returns this Friday, June 26, with live music, art, food, and gardens from 5–8 p.m.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Michelle Lockey brings her blend of folk, acoustic pop, and Americana to the MSV from Maryland. She’ll perform favorites from the 1960s to today in sets at 5 and 6:30 p.m. in the gardens. Bring a chair or blanket.

Throughout the evening, see fiber and leather artist Sarah Perks demonstrate traditional spinning techniques, and browse a selection of her handcrafted works.

Enjoy BBQ and more from The Apple House Fork’d food truck, wood-fired pizza from 3Fires Oven, plus beer, wine, and hard cider available for purchase.

Admission includes after-hours access to the MSV gardens and galleries, including the new outdoor exhibition “Earth & Sky: Sculptures by Marguerite Elliot.”

Admission is FREE for MSV members (no tickets required) and ages 12 & under. Tickets for all others are $10–$15. Learn more & save with advance tickets: https://www.themsv.org/Nite626

The MSV is located at 901 Amherst St., Wi******er, VA.

MSV at Night is sponsored by Braddock Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.

Friday, June 26 • 5–8 p.m. Experience the MSV after hours!

06/19/2026

Calling all Trails fans—MSV Trails Manager Kyle Stayer has been busy this week. Any guesses what he's been working on?

🌻 The MSV sunflower meadow has been planted—and expanded!

After becoming a Trails favorite last year, the sunflower meadow now stretches along both sides of the trail. By late August, the meadow should be filled with thousands of sunflowers reaching up to seven feet tall, creating an even more spectacular display than last year.

Here's a question: How many sunflower seeds do you think it took to plant the expanded meadow? Share your guess in the comments!

A free-admission art park with miles of trails, The Trails at the MSV is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk.

06/17/2026

Get children ages 5–10 outside and into the garden at the MSV during Garden Explorers this Saturday, June 20, from 10:30 a.m.–noon.

Led by a museum educator, participants will explore the Vegetable Garden in search of tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli, asparagus, banana trees, and more while learning what plants need to grow and how to care for them. Hands-on activities include potting a sunflower seed, starting a chive plant, and taking home a fresh mint cutting.

This hands-on experience is a fun way to get your kids interested in gardening. Registration is required. Register here: https://bit.ly/4fRE1sM

06/11/2026

A swarm of honeybees made a brief stop at the MSV this morning, gathering in a White Oak tree near the Glen Burnie House.

The good news? Swarming is a natural sign of a healthy, growing bee colony. The MSV contacted our friends at Beekeepers of the Northern Shenandoah BONS, and beekeepers "Squirrel" and Ed Shideler safely collected the bees so they can start a new hive.

As the largest green space and only working farm in the city of Wi******er, the MSV provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and pollinators. Whether these bees were attracted by the open landscape, the flowering plants in the gardens, or simply found the White Oak to be the perfect resting spot, we're happy the MSV could play a small role in helping these important pollinators thrive.

Swipe through to see photos of the swarm and the beekeeper in action!

06/10/2026

What bird is making that sound? Can your child identify a robin's song or an owl's hoot?

Discover the songs and calls of North American birds during a FREE day of stories, bird songs, and hands-on fun at the MSV this Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m., with children's author June Smalls!

June's interactive new book, “Hear Them Sing: Songs and Calls from North American Birds,” combines a beautifully illustrated guidebook with a built-in soundboard, allowing children to hear the calls of 14 North American birds at the push of a button.

Enjoy live readings by June Smalls at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., book signings, bird-themed activities, and opportunities to learn about local birds from experts with the Northern Shenandoah Audubon Society.

Activities take place in the Reception Hall of the galleries building. Autographed copies of “Hear Them Sing,” along with a curated selection of additional books by June Smalls, will be available for purchase in the Museum Store.

Admission is free to the book event and related activities. MSV admission is required for ages 13 and older who wish to visit the gardens and galleries. Admission to the MSV is free for ages 12 and under, MSV members, and those receiving SNAP/food assistance benefits (EBT card required). All others may purchase discounted tickets online here: https://bit.ly/3Ob6uLT

06/09/2026

Introduce little ones to the wonders of nature through stories, music, and play during a free story time led by MSV educators on Wednesday, June 10, at 10:30–11 a.m. or 11–11:30 a.m. 🌿📚

Along with reading books and singing songs, children will learn about the letter of the day, explore objects that begin with that letter, and talk about things they might see during their visit—like this butterfly!

Tiny Tales Story Time: Caring for Nature is designed for children ages 2–5 with an adult and takes place in the drawing room of the Glen Burnie House. Free. Registration not required. Adults must accompany children.

Tiny Tales Story Time is a free monthly event held on the second Wednesday of each month. Summer dates include June 10, July 8, and August 12. Click here to view the MSV event calendar: https://www.themsv.org/upcoming-events/

06/05/2026

MSV Curator of Collections Nick Powers shares the story behind June's "Shenandoah Collection Spotlight."

On view is an apothecary chest that first belonged to Dr. Solomon Henkel (1777–1847) of New Market, Virginia. Over time, generations of the Henkel family—many of whom practiced medicine in the Shenandoah Valley—added bottles, medicines, and other tools to the chest, creating a remarkable record of medical practice in the region.

What unusual object inside the chest tells the story of a life-changing medical procedure? Watch the video to find out.

"Shenandoah Collection Spotlight" features a different object—or group of objects—from the Shenandoah Valley Collection each month. It might be a recent acquisition or something rarely on view, but it will always tell a fascinating story.

This month's spotlight will be on view through June. The MSV is open Tuesday–Sunday from 10–5.

06/03/2026

At the MSV, wonder comes in all sizes.

Tucked in the far side of the picnic area, over a gentle hill and past a tangle of tree roots, a tiny village awaits. With little doors, charming details, and plenty of magic packed into a small space, the MSV gnome village is one of those delightful surprises that makes a visit even more memorable.

A hop, a climb, a peek, a grin—who knows what tiny treasures you'll find within?

Whether you're stopping to admire the details or just seeing where the path leads, there's always something unexpected to discover.

The picnic area is open free of charge from 7 a.m. to dusk. Created by MSV friend and woodworker Jack McAllister, the Gnome Village is just one of many discoveries waiting to be found. Admission is free for ages 12 and under, MSV members, and those receiving food assistance (EBT card required). Discount tickets for all other visitors are available online:

You belong at the MSV.

06/03/2026

There’s a pottery show & sale at Wi******er’s Museum of the Shenandoah Valley from 10–5 this Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7!

Browse displays of contemporary pottery available for purchase and see special pottery by experts from the Shenandoah Potters Guild demonstrations (1 & 2 p.m. on Saturday only). The demonstrations are free and will take place in the MSV Makerspace Studio. FREE event admission!

Details here: www.themsv.org/pottery26

While you’re at the MSV, visit the galleries to see the MSV's impressive collection of pottery that highlights the Shenandoah Valley’s centuries-old pottery tradition and features rare pieces made by several of the region’s most prominent early potters. The newly opened exhibition “Earth & Sky: Sculptures by Marguerite Elliot,” is on view in the Museum’s 7-acre gardens too! Admission applies for galleries/garden visits.

The MSV is located at 901 Amherst St. in Wi******er, VA.

06/02/2026

Looking for a fun, FREE way to spend this Saturday morning outdoors? Stop by—or ride a bike to—the MSV on June 6 for National Trails Day activities from 9 a.m. to noon! Get all the details here: www.theMSV.org/trails26

Celebrate the outdoors with free yoga sessions led by Jackie Dawson at the Standing Stone Circle: 9:30 a.m. for ages 18+ and 10:30 a.m. for families & kids. Plant a tree with MSV garden staff from 10–11 a.m. (while supplies last; families welcome), take an expert-led bird walk on the Trails (registration required), or visit a volunteer fair featuring more than a dozen area nonprofits from 10 a.m.–noon.

Enjoy hands-on nature activities on the Trails, including planting sunflower seeds, making bird feeders, and participating in a scavenger hunt. The Apple House Fork'd food truck will be at the MSV with apple cider donuts, BBQ, and more available for purchase.

BikeWalk Wi******er will offer free bicycle valet services, Blue Ridge Bicycles will provide bike checkups, and Wi******er VA Parks and Recreation will host a kids activity.

Spread the word and join us for a great morning on the Trails—we hope to see you there!

The MSV is located at 901 Amherst St. in Wi******er, VA.