As a result of the town’s 100th
birthday celebration, the Vinton Historical Society was formed in June
1985. We held our first meeting with 16 members present. This group
decided that we needed to preserve some of rich heritage of Vinton and in
September 1988 the Vinton Historical Society officially opened the Vinton
Museum.
Membership, today, in the Vinton Historical Society is
open to anyone desiring to assist in the preservation of local
history. The Society is the sole operator of the museum and provides funds
to support the operation of the museum by conducting fund raising events
throughout the year. We are in constant need of volunteers and are now
attempting to fund a part-time position of Museum Director.
The museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying
local artifacts and family treasures for our citizens and visitors to the
area. More than 200 families have loaned or donated items for inclusion in
the museum collection.
The museum is housed in a family dwelling that was built
in 1906. The house was given to the Town of Vinton and was leased to the
Historical Society for use as a Museum in 1988.
The Vinton Museum is home to thousands of items that are
a part of the Vinton community and the surrounding Roanoke Valley. Our
collection includes a large number of stone implements made by the Native
Americans before white settlement, dolls, china, hand made kitchen vessels, an
art collection of local artists and period photographs, clothing dating back to
the 17th century, a large number of radios and television sets and
printed material concerning the local area.
Currently, we are open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 2
PM from mid-April through early December and upon special request by
individuals and groups.