The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum

06/02/2026

Home Depot Volunteers are the best!

The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum is deeply grateful to The Home Depot Foundation for its generous donation and providing volunteers to assist with painting during the Bolling Home Phase I Project. This support is part of a Team Depot Volunteer Project, “Restore History for our First Lady.” These volunteers hard work and community spirit are helping bring new life to this important historic property and investing in the preservation of Wytheville’s history.

It truly takes a village, and we are so thankful to have Home Depot as part of our village. Together, we are preserving history for future generations!

Shown applying a coat of primer are Home Depot Volunteers Candy Sharif, Gary Fields, Alan Cox, Travis Ringstaff with Museum Founder, Farron Smith

Downtown Wytheville Visit Wytheville Wytheville Museums Wythe County Tourism Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Members of the Moribana Garden Club gathered for their May meeting at the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum where they were greeted by "Edith" herself. Edith, portrayed by Betsy Ely, entertained the group by sharing details of her life "From Wytheville to the White House."

Hostess Patti Pizinger served a delightful lunch of savories and sweets. A good time was had by all!

Downtown Wytheville Visit Wytheville Wytheville Museums Wythe County Tourism Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce

05/25/2026

Click on the link to learn how this museum is making a difference to Downtown Wytheville....

In Wytheville, Virginia, the Main Street Approach helped build a vibrant and connected downtown community. It also helped uncover and preserve an important local historic site: the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace.

Learn how Downtown Wytheville is leveraging their history to build community pride and economic vitality: https://mainstreet.org/the-latest/news/community-spotlight-preserving-the-edith-bolling-wilson-birthplace-in-wytheville-virginia

05/25/2026

History Uncovered

Slowly but surely, the layers of the Bolling Home are being peeled back to reveal incredible pieces of the past. Deep into Phase I of the project, the discoveries are breathtaking. History is literally emerging from the plaster!

Here is a sneak peek at what has been revealed from the 1866–1899 era:
Original Wallpaper: Hidden since the turn of the 20th century, this mid-19th-century paper was found in the area believed to be Grandmother Bolling’s bedroom. The room was likely papered in 1866 when Edith Bolling Wilson’s family first moved in and worked to turn what was once a Confederate hospital into a home.

Hand-Hewn Beam: A massive 25-foot beam crafted from a single raw log will be preserved and showcased in the ceiling of the Bolling Home.

The Stairway: The original walls and wooden steps in the stairway have been uncovered to find layers of historic finishes telling the story of this historic home from nearly two centuries ago.

Great care, planning, and attention is being given to preserve these historic elements of the Bolling Home that tell the Bolling family story. Stay tuned—there is so much more to uncover!

Downtown Wytheville Visit Wytheville Wytheville Museums Wythe County Tourism First Ladies Association for Research and Education - FLARE National Trust for Historic Preservation

05/22/2026

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, Ramona Quave and Glenn Borghoff, for packaging the gift bags for Spiller Elementary School 4th grade students. These students will visit the museum next Tuesday learning about Mrs. Wilson’s life “From Wytheville to the White House.” Palmer Summers portraying “Little Edith” and Betsy Ely portraying “Edith” will share about Mrs. Wilson’s young life in Wytheville and her life as First Lady. Every student will receive a gift bag with the museum’s educational book, How the SHEEP Helped Win the War, and other goodies to take home!

Thank you Ramona and Glenn for giving of your time volunteering!

Downtown Wytheville Visit Wytheville Wytheville Museums Wythe County Tourism Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce

05/21/2026

Betsy Ely portraying "Edith" welcomed our friends from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on their walking tour of Wytheville. Check out Downtown Wytheville's great photos below.

Downtown Wytheville Visit WythevilleWythe County Tourism Wytheville Museums Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce

05/18/2026

International Museum Day

Today, on International Museum Day, the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum is proud to partner with the Town of Wytheville Museums and Wythe Training School Cultural Center to celebrate our shared history and the future we can build together through empathy and respect.

This year’s theme, “Museums Uniting a Divided World,” highlights the powerful role museums play in rebuilding connections across generations, communities, and cultures. Museums are spaces where stories are preserved and shared, where voices are heard, and where meaningful connections are made.

They remind us not only of our past, but of what we have in common and the importance of working together toward a stronger, more understanding future.
We invite you to bring your friends, families, colleagues, and community groups to explore the museums in Wytheville, Virginia. Discover the stories that connect us and celebrate the rich history that shapes who we are today.

Step into history. Be inspired by her story. Experience it at the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum.

Downtown Wytheville Visit Wytheville International Council of Museums - ICOM , Wytheville Training School Cultural Center Wytheville Museums Wythe County Tourism

05/12/2026

As Phase I of restoration for the Bolling Home nears completion, the EBW Birthplace Museum is excited to announce that the central portion of the historic Bolling Home located above The Grind will soon be converted into a new Education Center.

This space will feature high-quality technology and comfortable seating designed to enhance educational programming, community engagement, and accessibility for all visitors.

The Museum is especially grateful to the Wytheville Walmart Supercenter for awarding the Museum a Walmart Spark Good grant to help bring this vision to life. Funding from the grant will support the installation of high-definition screens, surround sound audio systems, and seating for nearly 80 guests.

This exciting addition will allow the Museum to host larger audiences than ever before while creating a more accessible experience for visitors with visual or auditory limitations. It will also provide another welcoming venue for small-scale community meetings and events. Projects like this move us closer to our goal of making the Museum and its programming accessible, engaging, and inspiring for everyone.

Thank you, Wytheville Walmart #3290, for investing in our community and helping preserve the legacy of Edith Bolling Wilson for future generations!

Downtown Wytheville Visit Wytheville Walmart Wytheville Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce Wythe County Tourism Wytheville Museums