Blacksburg History Way Timeline Opening
2025-09-05 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
During September’s Art Walk, we will celebrate our new permanent exhibit showcasing significant events in Blacksburg. Thanks to our in-house graphic designer, Jolie Rice, for all her talent, patience, and dedication to this meaningful project.
If you are a museum member, you may join us at 4:00 for a champagne toast and ribbon cutting. If you would like to become a member any time before this special preview event, please visit our Membership Page.
Made possible with generous support from Paul and Evelyn Farrier.

Haunted History Tour
2025-09-05 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-07 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-12 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-14 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-19 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-21 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-26 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-27 19:00 - 22:00 and 8 more dates | 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.

Genealogy Saturday
2025-09-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-04 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.

Main Gallery Exhibit: The Art of Goodbye
2025-09-30 - 2025-11-18 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
On exhibit in the Main Gallery
September 30 – November 18

Grave Rubbings at Westview Cemetery
2025-10-01 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-08 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-15 15:00 - 17:00, 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.

The Art of Goodbye Exhibit Opening
2025-10-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
During October’s Art Walk, come explore the ways in which mourning and death rituals have evolved through the Colonial, Victorian and Modern eras. We will be exhibiting a range of artifacts from local gravestone rubbings, hair jewelry and mourning attire to items from the McCoy Funeral Home private collection.

As part of this exhibit, we welcome you to partake in events throughout spooky season including:
* gravestone rubbing & cemetery walks* haunted history tours* post-mortem art and photography talks* seances and tarot card readings
* epitaph writing* costume competitions

* Halloween party at the museum on October 31

Details and pricing for all events will be coming soon!

And if you are a museum member, you may join us at 4:00 for a cocktail hour featuring spooky seasonal drinks hosted by JH Bards. If you would like to become a member any time before this special event, please visit our Membership Page.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:
New River Art & Fiber, Botetourt County Historical Society, NRV Historical Costume Society, Westview Cemetery, JH Bards, McCoy Funeral Home, Taubman Museum of Art, and more to come!

Scott Crawford Talk: “Death in 19th Century Portraiture”
2025-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
Portraiture is often thought of as being a means to capture the image of a sitter determined to have his or her likeness preserved on canvas. However, not all sitters were alive. Scott Crawford will walk us through one particular 19th century painting by Lilly Martin Spencer (on loan from the Taubman Museum of Art) that contains more meaning than meets the eye. Talk begins at 6:30pm. Light refreshments provided.

Blues, Brews & BBQ
2025-10-11 12:00 - 17:00 | St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, 203 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Join us for our annual Blues, Brews, & BBQ event on Saturday, October 11 at St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, a nationally recognized historic landmark that once served as the social center of New Town, a neighborhood for Black residents during segregation. The Hall is the last building standing and serves as an important reminder of the resilience, pride, self-reliance, and community spirit of the people who lived there, as well as the legacy of injustice that segregation imposed. The Blues, Brews, and BBQ event recalls some of the happier times in New Town, when friends and neighbors would gather for dancing, community, and fellowship.

Performances By:12:30-1:30pm – The Blue Monday Band
2:00-3:00pm – The JoJo Stockton Project
3:30-4:30pm – Lady D and Mi$$ion

Food Provided By:Kirk’s Famous Smoked Barbeque

Beer and Wine Provided By:Blue Ridge Beverage

Thank you to our Stage Sponsor, Stateson Homes.

Musical Guest Information
The JoJo Stockton Project
The JoJo Stockton Project contains a back line: killer drummer Chris Oneal, monster bassist/ lead Nigel Banks, and fire on Keys, Mr. Tom Floyd.
JoJo Stockton (from moonshine capital Franklin County Va.) has opened for several Grammy-nominated artists at venues such as the Harvester Performance Center, The Cove, The Taubman, The Moss Center, 5 Points Sanctuary and the Bower Center. Corey “lil pop” Ledet, “TAZ” Brandon Niederauer , Delbert McClinton, Adrian Crutchfield, Cedrick Burnside, and Rueben Studdard are among the artist he’s performed with or opened for. The list of local artists he’s jammed with is way too long to list.
If you can’t find him downtown Roanoke playing the local scene with his popular band “Solacoustix “, or with a blues jam, JoJo is out supporting other local artists (his favorite thing to do). For that reason, he is coined Roanoke’s “Mayor of Music” and actually received the key to the city from the Mayor himself in July 2023. Even though he loves all genres, coming up playing blues music with his pops (the late Alvin Stockton) this man is committed to keeping the blues alive!
Lady D and Mi$$ion
Lady D was born in the coalfields of Cabin Creek in West Virginia and has since become known as W.Va.’s First Lady of Soul.
Lady D has become well-known for her original one-woman stage play titled, “The Lady and the Empress” and the abbreviated version titled “Bessie’s Blues,” based on the life and music of blues legend, Bessie Smith.
Lady D’s regularly performs as a duo with keyboard or guitar and she has made many appearances with blues luminaries such as Bruce Katz and Johnny Rawls, but she is best known as front woman for her 4-piece band, MI$$ION. This group of seasoned musicians easily cover several genres that make up their shows. From R&B, blues, jazz and reggae to pop and soul, as well as her own original music, Lady D & MI$$ION hold their own on any musical line-up. Lady D & MI$$ION have been the opening act for soul legends such as the O’Jays and Jagged Edge and performed at the Obama for Change Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC in January 2009.
Members of the Band:
Dan Bailey – Guitar
Phil Copney – Bass Guitar
Demetrius “Meech” Cross – Drums
Robert Gray – Keys
Lady D has six CDs to her credit, including her newest and most recently released, “Disturbing My Peace.”
Blue Monday Band
Formed in 2005 as the house band and hosts for the popular Monday night blues jam in Blacksburg VA, these guys have been pumping out the blues ever since. The foundation of the group is steeped in Chicago blues, however they can handle Texas blues, West Coast swing and even some early rock’n’roll with authenticity. Fronting the band is Paul “Doc” Herling, guitar and vocals, with Bill Smith, bass and vocals, Keith Chinault, drums and vocals. The Blue Monday Band is sure to deliver an energetic set of down home blues!
Members of the Band:
Paul Herling – Guitar and Vocals
Bill Smith – Bass and Vocals
Keith Chinault – Drums and Vocals

Art Demonstration and Book Talk with Doug Hiser
2025-10-17 14:00 - 19:00 | Alexander Black House, 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
A Blacksburg Regional Art Association Event
free and open to the public
2-4pm
Renowned Austin, Texas artist Doug Hiser will conduct an art demonstration where attendees will observe him painting a wildlife picture using ink and watercolor, explaining his approach and methodology as he works. The event is free and open to the public.
5-7pm
Doug will do an author talk and wildlife slide presentation. Doug has written over 30 books and over 30 songs.
See the full list of Doug’s events around our community at the Blacksburg Regional Art Association Artist Events Page.

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.

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.
