And now, the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap Plays a part in sharing those stories with the community and visitors alike. The Southwest Virginia Museum is housed in a mansion originally built in the 1880s by Rufus Ayers, a Virginia attorney general. The exhibits showcase the development of Big Stone Gap beginning in the late 1870s when northern businessmen dreamed of turning the tiny village of Big Stone Gap into the Pittsburgh of the South. Exhibits chronicle the coming of the railroad, the development of the mining industry, and the lives of many prominent local citizens. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, January and February .
Hours are subject to change.
Please call ahead to confirm hours of operation. An admission fee is charged.