Shenandoah County Heritage Day on April 11 Features the Virginia America 250th Mobile Museum in Addition to Family and Other Displays
The Shenandoah County Historical Society and the Shenandoah County Library Archives will hold the Shenandoah County Heritage Day on Saturday, April 11, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Shenandoah County Government Center at 600 North Main Street in Woodstock, VA. This annual event brings together historians, genealogists, family members, research organizations, and anyone interested in Shenandoah County’s rich past. Shenandoah County Heritage Day presents a great opportunity for professional and amateur researchers, history organizations and genealogists to share their knowledge and research as well as for community members to learn about the county’s rich and diverse history. Some of the participants attend every year, but there are always tables with new displays and updated information.
A bonus feature for this year’s event is The Virginia America 250 Mobile Museum Experience which will be open for visitors to explore. The VA250 Mobile Museum, titled “Out of Many, One” officially hit the road on January 18, 2025, at the Fincastle Resolutions 250 Anniversary event “A Salute to Southwest Virginia” in Roanoke. Since then, it has traveled throughout the Commonwealth to bring history alive for as many folks as possible.
Shenandoah County Heritage Day has been held each spring since 2001. The location rotates throughout Shenandoah County. In 2020, the event went virtual for a year but in 2021, returned to the in-person format. For 2026, Heritage Day returns to Woodstock, VA, the county seat of Shenandoah County. Many museums and historical groups will have displays, as well individual families with their histories, and more!
One new exhibit this year will be from Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center. Tom Powell, Executive Director at Caroline Furnace (located at the site of the old iron furnace), says “As we have explored our history, we have learned that the majority of the labor for Caroline Furnace when it was operating as a furnace (1836-1865) was done by enslaved people. We also have learned and regretfully acknowledge that four Lutheran pastors in Shenandoah County, A. Rude, Peter Muhlenberg, Samuel S. Schmucker, and John P. Cline owned slaves, according to census records. In light of this history, we find it necessary to acknowledge the horror of slavery and how it has benefitted those who have gone before us. We are working to acknowledge our past and continue the work of racial healing.” Powell will have information on a Racial Healing Memorial which will include statues of an enslaved child and a white child, “since children were the ones who dumped the waste product from smelting iron…all over the property.” The waste product, called slag, can be found by visitors and a piece placed on the memorial. They have a local artist, Carmen Crawford, working with them on the Memorial.
The Shenandoah County Branch of the NAACP will also have an educational display table with a timeline of school desegregation in Shenandoah County, information on black schools in Shenandoah County before desegregation, and photographs of the first black students to attend Shenandoah County schools.
Barbara Adamson, President of the Shenandoah County Historical Society says about the special day “Heritage Day is a favorite time for me because it brings together people from all over Shenandoah County and beyond to share their stories. No matter the area we focus on, we also share countywide history.”
Zachary (Zach) Hottel, Archivist at the Shenandoah County Library, reflects on what Heritage Day is all about: ““Shenandoah County Heritage Day is a wonderful opportunity for researchers, genealogists, history enthusiasts, and historic sites to gather in one place to connect with each other and highlight wonderful stories from our past. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or are brand new to our community, you will discover something at Heritage Day that connects you to our shared past.”
