Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation

16 Squares Walking Tour
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | 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 by email to info@blacksburghistory.org. Tours limited to 15 people.

SLOFH Soul Food Sampling
2026-02-21 12:00 - 18:00 | St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Celebrate Black History Month and take a step back in time at the 9th 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.
10% off for museum members at the Supporter, Curator, Historian, Patron, and Benefactor Levels with code soulfood2026. Want to become a member? Click HERE!
Important Notes:
* Each meal is predominantly non-vegetarian.
*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.
*If weather prohibits our event, the new date will be February 28.
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Market Jam at the Museum
2026-02-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Market Jams at the Museum are back for the cold (and fluctuating!) weather months in 2026! Join us for this month’s session hosted by Emily Reisinger and the Happy Hollow Stringband.

Genealogy Saturday
2026-02-07 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-03 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-01 13:00 - 16:00
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.

Music of the Civil War
2026-02-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Join us for an engaging afternoon of history and music. Musician and historian Geoff White will perform songs written and played during the American Civil War, sharing their stories and historical significance along the way.
Geoff, a versatile performer on fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, has played everywhere from concert halls to historic battlefields. With a background in both music and history—including a degree focused on Civil War music—he brings a unique perspective to this program.
This in-person only event is free and open to the public, presented by Historic Smithfield, the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, and the Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation.

Exhibition Opening Reception: Appalachian Secularization
2026-02-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Opening February 6 with an evening reception and talk with the artist! Jeremy Riffe’s photography exhibition presents both active and abandoned churches, placing them in visual conversation with one another. Through this juxtaposition, Riffe offers a reflection on secularization in Appalachia—highlighting churches that remain centers of community alongside those that stand unused, weathered, or forgotten. Together, the photographs explore themes of faith, memory, and cultural transition, documenting how belief and tradition continue to evolve across the Appalachian region.

In the Main Gallery: Jeremy Riffe's Appalachian Secularization
2026-02-06 - 2026-02-28 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Jeremy Riffe’s photography exhibition presents both active and abandoned churches, placing them in visual conversation with one another. Through this juxtaposition, Riffe offers a reflection on secularization in Appalachia—highlighting churches that remain centers of community alongside those that stand unused, weathered, or forgotten. Together, the photographs explore themes of faith, memory, and cultural transition, documenting how belief and tradition continue to evolve across the Appalachian region.

Main Gallery Closed for Private Event
2026-01-16 11:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States

Young Artists: Dreamscapes
2026-01-14 - 2026-01-31 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Young Artists: Dreamscapes is coordinated by Sierra R. Frazier, Craig County High School Art Teacher; Bethany Costello, Center for the Arts Engagement Manager; Savannah Penven, Center for the Arts Exhibition Program Manager; and the staff at Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Museum.

Market Jam at the Museum
2026-01-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Market Jams at the Museum are back for the cold (and fluctuating!) weather months in 2026! Join us for this month’s session featuring the host band Indian Run Stringband with Paul Herling on fiddle, Ginger Wagner on banjo, Matt Peyton on guitar, and Sam Linkous on bass.

Ukelele Holiday String Jam
2025-12-13 14:00 - 16:00
Close out the year in celebration with Ash Devine’s annual uke-led string jam and sing-along! All stringed acoustic instruments, voices and observers welcome.

Holiday Trees with DBI
2025-11-29 - 2026-01-02
We are partnering with Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. to bring 15 community business trees to life at the museum! Vote on your favorite and brush up on holiday rituals during the Victorian era!

Dan Thorp Book Signing & Talk
2025-11-05 17:00 - 19:00 | St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Virginia Tech History professor Dan Thorp has recently published his latest book entitled Seeking Justice and will join us at St. Luke & Odd Fellows on Wednesday, November 5 for a book signing and presentation.
Before the Civil War brought emancipation to the South, some enslaved people managed to use the legal system – the same one that had concocted and long perpetuated their bondage – to sue for their freedom from owners who unlawfully held them in slavery. In Seeking Justice, Thorp tells the story behind Unis v. Charlton’s Administrator, one of the most extensive of these freedom suits in all of American history.
Doors open at 5pm and event begins at 5:30pm. Blacksburg Books will join us with copies of the book as well!

Haunted History Tour
2025-10-31 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-10-26 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-10-25 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-10-19 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-10-18 19:00 - 22:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Take a tour of historic downtown Blacksburg with a ghostly twist! On this 60-90 minute tour, renowned ghost tour guide T.J. Prosalenti will take you to four locations – The Alexander Black House, The Lyric Theatre, Thomas-Conner House, and Stroubles Creek. The stories at each stop will range from 5-10 minutes in length. Prosalenti has given more than 160 tours throughout Richmond (check out his reviews at Past Reviews — Blacksburg Historic Ghost Tours (blacksburgprotours.com) and we are lucky that he has come to Blacksburg!

The tour begins and ends at the lawn between The Thomas Conner House and The Alexander Black House at 204 Draper Road. Tours will begin at the times listed on the ticket options below.

Each tour is limited to 15 people and needs a minimum of 2 people to proceed. In the event of a cancellation on our end, you will be refunded. Rain does not cause automatic cancellation. Ages 8+
Tickets must be purchased at least three hours prior to tour time.
What to Expect:

you will learn both the history and lore of the buildings at each location

we will walk a moderate amount, so be sure to wear good walking shoes

you will hear local ghost stories from the NRV

What is Not Included:

food or drinks (with the exception of Halloween – plans TBA)

transportation of any type

Tickets at our October Exhibit Events page.

Halloween Trick or Treating
2025-10-31 15:00 - 18:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
We will be participating in Downtown Blacksburg Inc.’s annual downtown trick or treating. Visit us any time 3-6pm!

Mike Hudson Talk: Postmortem Photography
2025-10-30 18:30 - 20:30
Mike Hudson, Historic Smithfield’s Executive Director, will discuss Victorian-era postmortem photography and mourning practices. Mike also contributed to a book entitled “Beyond the Dark Veil” which will be available for purchase during the exhibit run. Talk begins at 6:30pm. Light refreshments provided.

Grave Rubbings at Westview Cemetery
2025-10-29 15:00 - 17:00
Take a walk with us to Westview Cemetery and create grave rubbings with supply kits from New River Art & Fiber. We will walk from The Alexander Black House at 3pm to NRAF to pick up your kit and then head to the cemetery. You may alternatively pick up your kit at NRAF with proof of your ticket purchase and meet us at the cemetery at 3:30pm. We request that you purchase your kit at least three days prior to the event.
Tickets at our October Exhibit Events page.

An Autumnal Appalachian Evening of Ballads & Stories
2025-10-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
For spooky season, Ash is bringing us ballads & songs of transition, haunting, death, mourning, and creatures of the night. Between songs, we also wantyou to share stories of any hauntings you’ve experienced in the NRV! Doors open at 6pm and show runs from 6:30-7:30pm. Free but donations encouraged.

Scott Crawford Talk: “The Exhumation"
2025-10-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Scott Crawford will explore how 19th century mourning culture helped decode a late 19th century painting, leading the National Gallery of Art to change the painting’s name. This talk will dive deeply into the 19th century concept of the “Good Death” and how the American Civil War upset this understanding of death, as well as the driving forces behind the National Cemetery Movement. Talk begins at 6:30pm. Light refreshments provided.

Grave Rubbings at Westview Cemetery
2025-10-22 15:00 - 17:00
Take a walk with us to Westview Cemetery and create grave rubbings with supply kits from New River Art & Fiber. We will walk from The Alexander Black House at 3pm to NRAF to pick up your kit and then head to the cemetery. You may alternatively pick up your kit at NRAF with proof of your ticket purchase and meet us at the cemetery at 3:30pm.
Tickets at our October Exhibit Events page.
