The VA250 Traveling Museum

On September 26 and 27, the VA250 Traveling Museum stopped in Fincastle, inviting residents to explore 250 years of Virginia’s Revolutionary legacy. Parked near the Fincastle Library, the mobile exhibit offered an immersive experience that connected statewide history with local heritage.

I checked out the museum on Friday with several friends. We had a really good time, especially when we were all reciting Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty" speech together. I guess every Virginian was required to learn that in the 4th grade.

The museum is part of the VA250 initiative, a multi-year commemoration of the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary. The rolling exhibit features interactive displays, historical artifacts, and digital storytelling that highlight Virginia’s role in the founding of the United States. It's on a tractor trailer and moves from town to town.

While we were there, we explored themes ranging from indigenous history and colonial resistance to civic evolution and community memory. For Botetourt County, whose own Revolutionary contributions include the drafting of the Botetourt Resolutions in 1775, the museum’s presence served as both education and affirmation.

The Botetourt Resolutions were a significant declaration by the leaders of Botetourt County, Virginia, expressing support for American independence and self-governance. The document was issued during a time of rising tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain. 

It was prepared by the freeholders of Botetourt County and sent instructions to their representatives attending the Second Virginia Convention. This document was a response to the increasing dissatisfaction with British rule and the desire for greater autonomy among the colonies. 

The resolutions articulated the county's commitment to liberty and the principles of self-governance, setting a precedent for the revolutionary movement. They emphasized the importance of unity among the colonies and called for action against British oppression. The Botetourt Resolutions predated the Declaration of Independence by more than a year, highlighting the county's early stance in favor of independence.

Local volunteers and historians helped contextualize the broader narrative, linking national milestones to Fincastle’s own layered past. The museum’s visit was part of a larger series of events planned throughout Virginia leading up to 2026, as communities reclaim their place in the nation’s founding story.

I became so involved in reading the history that it wasn't until we were nearly done that I remembered to take pictures for the blog, so these are not the best.

If it comes to a location near you, it's definitely worth seeing.

Visiting the Museum

Recently, my husband and I visited the Botetourt County Historical Museum to see the Virginia 250th celebration project that they were hosting.

My husband found it somewhat disappointing, as it was mostly placards that gave history lessons. He was hoping to see some Jamestown pottery or something.

But I always find museums fascinating, regardless. Virginia's contribution to the founding of the United States of America is irrefutable and relevant. Mother of Presidents, and all that. 

Here are photos of what we saw:

Permanent display at the museum.

Hubby reading one of the VA250 displays.

Glassware donated by a relative.

Permanent display.

Part of a sundial donated by a relative.

I had a relative who built long rifles. I don't know if that
is one of his.

Botetourt passed resolutions before any other community (I think).

Just a parting shot, someone you know wrote that
magazine there.

Madison & Monroe

When I die, I expect whoever ends up clearing out my stuff to simply chuck it, which would be a shame because I have a lot of photos and documentation that historians would kill for.

Take these photos that I ran across today while I was looking for something else. I had forgotten I had these. While not the best shots - obviously wherever I was there was a glare - these are historic documents with the signatures of James Madison and James Monroe. They were owned by a resident of the town of Fincastle when I took these photos. I have no clue where the originals might be now. Somewhere there's an article that accompanied these - 

Poplar Forest

About 10 miles from The National D-Day Memorial is Poplar Forest. Poplar Forest is the name of an octagonal home built by Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president, for use as a retreat.

Jefferson inherited 4,819 acres of land and 11 enslaved men, women, and children at Poplar Forest through his father-in-law, John Wayles in 1773. The property’s name, which predates Jefferson’s ownership, reflects the forest that once grew there. Several stately poplars in the front of the home welcome visitors today.

In the early years of his ownership, Jefferson managed Poplar Forest from afar, hiring overseers to manage day-to-day duties, as he practiced law and served in a series of government offices. He and his family, however, did spend two months there in 1781 when they left Monticello to elude British capture at the end of the Revolutionary War. During this visit, Jefferson compiled much of the material for his only book, Notes on the State of Virginia.

In 1806, Jefferson traveled from Washington to supervise the laying of the foundation for the octagonal house that exists today. When his presidency ended in 1809, Jefferson visited the retreat three to four times a year, staying from two weeks to two months at a time. His visits often coincided with the seasonal responsibilities of the working plantation. He also oversaw the ornamentation of the house and grounds, and the planting of his vegetable garden. Family members, most often two granddaughters, Ellen and Cornelia Randolph, often traveled to Poplar Forest with him beginning in 1816.

Jefferson made his last trip to Poplar Forest in 1823 when he settled his grandson, Francis Eppes, on the property. Ill health prevented further visits. In 1828, two years after Jefferson’s death at age 83, Eppes sold Poplar Forest to a neighbor.

The design of Poplar Forest is highly idealistic in concept with only a few concessions to practicality—it was so perfectly suited to Jefferson alone that subsequent owners found it difficult to inhabit and altered it to suit their needs. In 1845 a fire led the family then living at Poplar Forest to convert Jefferson’s villa into a practical farmhouse. The property was privately owned until December 1983 when a nonprofit corporation began the rescue of the landmark for future generations. Visitors today see the house as reconstruction, restoration and preservation, are in progress.  -- Poplar Forest website

Here are photos I took during our visit:

The exterior octagon shape isn't as visible as one would think, but it's there.

The story of how Jefferson built the house.

A front shot.

Still trying to show the octagon sides. Note the structure attached. This was the kitchen and guest rooms.

Just another exterior shot.

From left: A privy, the overseer's house, and the enslaved persons quarters.

Enslaved persons quarters in the forefront.

A sign designating the two structures.

The overseer's house.

An interior room in that long side portion.

Jefferson had one of the better equipped kitchens for the time period. It's in the long portion, too, away from the main house.

He constructed an ingenious set of guttering within the rafters to keep water off the roof.

Interior of the house.

Information exhibits take up a lot of the space, but it's rather a small area by today's standards.

This was in the middle of the house proper.

The octagon shape does not lend itself to good use of space.