(Roanoke, VA) - The History Museum of Western Virginia is pleased to announce the final phase of our Capital Campaign: Crossroads of History! To celebrate this momentous occasion and prepare for relocation in June, the History Museum will be FREE to the public from May 3 - May 29, 2011. Take the opportunity to check out the"old museum" one last time before we relocate to Hotel Shenandoah on Campbell Avenue (the former exhibit, "Hometown Stars"). Upon completion of renovations in 2013, the History Museum will return to the third floor of Center in the Square.

When Center in the Square opened in 1983 in a renovated 1914 warehouse (the McGuire Building) in the old city market, the History Museum became one of five nonprofit "anchor tenants"of this revitalization project. Commencing in 2007 the Historical Society of Western Virginia began a capital campaign to renovate the History Museum with the goal of increasing accessibility to collections and exhibitions in order to better fulfill the Museum's education mission and reconnect with new audiences in a more meaningful way. To date, we have raised $1.2 million and renovated the Museum's research facility (Watts Library), education workshop (Barbara and E. Wilson Watts Education Gallery), and administrative areas. Additionally, we have created the Virtual Museum, an online research resource available through the world-wide web.

We are now seeking an additional $1.5 million to renovate the exhibition galleries in the HistoryMuseum and upgrade our collections and archival storage areas. A new continuing exhibition will incorporate the best in interpretive and technical standardswhile revealing 10,000 years of our region's cultural heritage throughartifacts that span the whole human experience from prehistoric times to thepresent day. Modified collections storage will allow the History Museum tobetter house and care for its collections; our organization is a repository for the material culture southwestern Virginia and we are entrusted with the care of the region's memory in perpetuity.

The first three phases of our campaign have been completed and paid for and remaining unexpended funds have been transferred to the fourth and final phase of the campaign. In 2011, during our silent campaign, we have raised a significant amount of new campaign pledges - including a $50,000 gift from an anonymous donor to pay for the CrossroadsCentral Timeline Exhibit. We invite you to make a gift to our campaign today and help be a part of history! 

About the History Museum of Western Virginia

The History Museum of Western Virginia is the oldest museum within the Historical Society of WesternVirginia's operations. The collections of the History Museum include "A Crossroads of History," which interpret southwestern Virginia's heritage through artifacts that span the whole of peoples' known experience throughoutthe region. A full schedule of rotating exhibits and programs allows the Museumto focus on a variety of people, industries and events that have influenced thedevelopment of western Virginia. Find us on Facebook!

TheHistory Museum of Western Virginia is located at

Center in theSquare, One Market Square, Third Floor, Roanoke VA 24011.

Tel: (540)342-5770 E-mail: info.hswv@cox.net;Website: www.history-museum.org

Hours:Tuesday - Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 1-5pm