Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation

Genealogy Saturday
2024-06-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-05-04 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-03-02 08:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join Carol Smith and Don Braffitt in the Ronnie and Faye Marcum Blacksburg History and Genealogy Room at The Alexander Black House for our monthly Genealogy Saturday the first Saturday of each month. Carol and Don will be on hand to assist you as you explore your family tree. They will be able to demonstrate starting your family tree or help you conduct a deeper dive into specialized areas of genealogy. Come with questions about research and discovering your roots or come with no knowledge of your family and let them guide you. Just Come! Free and open to the public. For helpful family tree templates, visit our Genealogy Page.

New Town Festival Gospel Sing
2024-06-01 08:00 - 14:00 | St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Join us for the 8th annual Gospel Sing, part of our New Town Festival Series, Saturday, June 1 from 12:00 to 5:00pm.
The afternoon will be filled with dancing, singing and fellowship as local groups and soloists perform their favorite current and old-time gospel favorites. And come hungry! Kirk’s BBQ will be onsite with food available for purchase!
Performance schedule includes:
12:00 Bob & Claudia Goldstein
1:00 This & That
2:00 Indian Run String Band Gospel Trio
3:00 New Town Panel Discussion
4:00 The Glorylanders of the New River Valley
5:00 Alexis Johnson & Closing Remarks
This is a FREE event, though donations are encouraged.

Give Local NRV 2024 Campaign
2024-06-01 04:00 - 2024-06-27 08:00 | VA
For this year’s Give Local NRV 2024 Campaign, we hope to raise $10,000 to

expand and enhance our programming
complete important archival work in our collections
continue offering quality exhibits
continue the preservation of our two historic sites, Alexander Black House and St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall

Please consider our organization at Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation | GiveLocalNRV when you give this year!

16 Squares Walking Tour
2024-05-23 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-05-09 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-04-25 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-04-11 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-03-28 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-03-14 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-02-29 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-02-15 07:00 - 08:00 and 1 more date | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Meet us at The Alexander Black House every other Thursday and then explore the historic streets within the original 16 Squares of Blacksburg and learn the rich history and stories behind many of the buildings and landmarks throughout town that may go unnoticed. You may also schedule this tour by appointment if Thursdays don’t work for your group.
By request, as an add-on, can also tour St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall.
Please RSVP below. Tours limited to 15 people.

Winter Old Time Jam + Lecture + Reception
2024-05-02 14:00 - 17:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Thursday, May 2 is our final indoor Old-Time Jam session before the group returns to the Farmers Market and we are celebrating this session with a lecture and reception.
Join us an hour earlier at 6:00 when Old-Time Jam members will share the history of their instruments, especially the banjo and fiddle, and the history of old-time music traditions. They will also give brief demos of their favorite tunes.
Old-Time Jam starts after the lecture at 7:00 and we will offer light refreshments throughout the evening as a thank you to all the musicians and their audience.
Free and open to the public.

Game Night at the Museum
2024-04-30 14:00 - 17:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join us on the last Tuesday of each month for Game Night! Bring your favorite board game, card game, puzzle, etc. or play with any of the games we have on hand at the museum. $5 suggested donation.

Community Uke & String Jam After Party
2024-04-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
We figured since the Uke Orchestra of Great Britain is playing at the Moss Arts center during our regular uke jam class, that we’d throw a party and uke jam the day after. Join us on Friday, April 5th for a uke led jam session, additional strings are welcome! We will be providing charts via email, and also we will project charts on the wall. Generally we will be playing a variety of genres and styles, but folky, folk revival, Americana, old time, and some swingy jazzy stuff for the most part.

If you want a copy of the charts we plan to provide, please contact Ash Devine at bookashdevine@gmail.com

Light refreshments will be provided, and you are welcome to bring a finger food dish to contribute to the spread!
This event is by donation.

Winter Old Time Jam
2024-04-04 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-07 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Calling all musicians and music lovers! There is plenty of room in the galleries for players and guests, so come pick a tune or sit back and listen. No host bands or registration necessary – just come as you are!
Free and open to the public.

Old Time and Americana String Jam and Song Circle
2024-03-30 10:00 - 12:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
This all-gender inclusive jam will be led by Ash Devine and members of the Blacksburg based all female Appalachian Old time band, the New River Fire Flies. The jam seeks to highlight non-male identifying musicians from the region, but all are welcome and encouraged to join. The jam will generally follow a traditional old time jam playing by ear format, with song sharing interspersed. Beginners are welcome!

A traditional OT house band will be provided featuring Ginger Wagner on Banjo, Ash Devine on Guitar and Uke, Aran Garnett-Deakin on Fiddle, and Stephanie Wolf on Bass.

More strings are welcome! Come to play and share a song or come to listen and enjoy the music and community.
Please contact Ash Devine at bookashdevine@gmail.com for more information about the format.

Genealogy Saturday
2024-03-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
*please note that this date will replace the previously scheduled April 6th date*
Join Carol Smith and Don Braffitt in the Ronnie and Faye Marcum Blacksburg History and Genealogy Room at The Alexander Black House for our monthly Genealogy Saturday the first Saturday of each month. Carol and Don will be on hand to assist you as you explore your family tree. They will be able to demonstrate starting your family tree or help you conduct a deeper dive into specialized areas of genealogy. Come with questions about research and discovering your roots or come with no knowledge of your family and let them guide you. Just Come! Free and open to the public. For helpful family tree templates, visit our Genealogy Page.

SLOFH Soul Food Sampling
2024-02-24 07:00 - 13:00 | St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Celebrate Black History Month and take a step back in time at the 7th annual Soul Food Sampling at historic St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, where generations met to enjoy delicious food, music and fellowship. In this spirit, you will receive generous portions of traditional soul foods at dinner table settings, learn about the history of soul food, and enjoy discussions with former New Town residents.
There are 3 time slots for the event, all of which are capped at 18 people:
12:00 – 1:45pm
2:00 – 3:45pm
4:00 – 5:45pm
Each time slot serves 3 menu samplings, including catfish, black-eyed peas, fried chicken, green beans, chili, collard greens, biscuits, cornbread, and savory desserts.
Due to the planning and meal preparation it takes to put this event together, tickets are not refundable but are transferrable. We can also arrange for takeout orders if you cannot attend in person.

Watercolor Workshop with May we Fly
2024-02-15 13:30 - 15:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Winter Landscapes Workshop
Get out of the winter blues with this fun watercolor workshop! We will explore the versatility of working within a single color along with a range of watercolor techniques to help you create your own beautiful winter-themed landscape. No prior painting experience is necessary to participate!
Class will be a go with 10 signups, so bring a friend and spread the word!
Feel free to bring your own supplies or purchase a supply kit with your ticket.
Supply List:
+ #6 or #8 round watercolor brush
+ watercolor paint (pan set or tubes) – Prussian Blue or similar
+ 140lb watercolor paper (4-6 sheets)
For more information about May We Fly, please visit Leana’s website.

Genealogy Saturday
2024-02-03 08:00 - 11:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join Carol Smith and Don Braffitt in the Ronnie and Faye Marcum Blacksburg History and Genealogy Room at the Alexander Black House for our monthly Genealogy Saturday the first Saturday of each month. Craol and Don will be on hand to assist you as you explore your family tree. They will be able to demonstrate starting your family tree or help you conduct a deeper dive into specialized areas of genealogy. Come with questions about research and discovering your roots or come with no knowledge of your family and let them guide you. Just Come!
Free and open to the public.

Frances Frederick Art Opening Reception
2024-01-24 12:30 - 14:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join us for our art opening reception for Frances Frederick’s work from 5:30-7:30pm. Refreshments provided.

Main Gallery Exhibit: Frances Frederick
2024-01-16 - 2024-04-13 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Frances Frederick is the Blacksburg Regional Art Association’s (BRAA) longest-tenured member, joining in 1952. Her style has changed over these years but has always been rich in color and texture and influenced by a variety of subject matter. In this exhibit, we take a look back on some of her most vibrant work.
Exhibit runs January 17-March 13

Winter Old Time Jam
2024-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Calling all musicians and music lovers! There is plenty of room in the galleries for players and guests, so come pick a tune or sit back and listen. No host bands or registration necessary – just come as you are!

Holiday Ukulele Sing Along with Ash Devine
2023-12-16 08:00 - 11:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
The talented Ash Devine will be here on Saturday, December 16 to lead a ukulele-led string jam and holiday sing along. Bring your uke or other stringed instrument or just your singing voice and join in the musical fun! This event is free but donations are encouraged.
1:15pm – uke 101 lesson with Ash
2-4pm – jam and sing along

Winter Old Time Jam
2023-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Musicians! The Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation is proud to offer you a cold weather / winter venue for old time jams in November and December. There is plenty of room in the galleries for players and guests, so come pick a tune or sit back and listen. No host bands or registration necessary – just come as you are!
