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Waynesboro Heritage Museum | 420 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, Va. 22980
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm | Admission: Free! | 540-943-3943
Welcome.
At the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation and its museums, we preserve the history of Waynesboro and the immediate surrounding area.
Come see us.
The Museum
The Waynesboro Heritage Museum portrays the history of Waynesboro through permanent and rotating exhibit galleries at two museums: the Waynesboro Heritage Museum in downtown Waynesboro and the early-19th century Plumb House. Permanent panels within each gallery reiterate the city’s history, from the Beverley Grant under King George II of England in 1797, early Teasville (Teesville), Basic City, Railroads, Education, Industry, “Memorable Waynesboro”: hospitality and entertainment, a postcard gallery, and exhibits on Fishburne Drug Store, Banks of Waynesboro, and Early Entrepreneurs of Waynesboro.
Current Exhibits
The Waynesboro Heritage Museum’s permanent gallery is complemented by a newly renovated rotating modular exhibit space that allows the museum to display several temporary rotating exhibits simultaneously, as well as a new “Out of the Archives” permanent exhibit space. The following exhibits are currently on display in the rotating gallery:
- “Foundations of Hope: Celebrating a Century of Waynesboro’s Rosenwald School and its Community”
- “A Century of Service,” a new exhibit in collaboration with the Waynesboro Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, celebrating 100 years in 2025.
- “Out of the Archives,” a new permanent exhibit space showcasing a rotating display of fascinating artifacts and records from out of the Heritage Museum’s archives.
Plan Your Visit
Admission
Always free! Donations welcome.
Main Museum Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Plumb House Hours
From April 11, 2024 until October, the Plumb House will be open every Thursday from 10am – 1pm. You can also call the museum at 540-943-3943 to make an appointment.
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Friday
- Closed
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
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We welcome all visitors to the Waynesboro Heritage Museum at 420 W Main Street.![]()
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If you are looking for a gift, do not forget the Waynesboro Heritage Museum Gift Shop delightful selection of books, prints, cards, ornaments, and other items. It is located reception room.![]()
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While you are here, take time to visit the museum. Besides our permanent exhibits, l have a newly renovated rotating exhibit space that always has something new to see.![]()
#localhistorymuseum #localhistorymatters #waynesboroheritagemuseumva #waynesborova
If you haven't come by the museum recently here is a sneak-peek as some of the things on display in our Railroad Exhibit.![]()
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This image shows a small grouping of items from the C&O Railroad that use the Chessie kitten logo.During the Depression, the C&O wanted to adapt a new logo that would convey the comfort of traveling by train. The company's vice president, Lionel C. Probert, saw a picture of a sleeping cat in the Herald Tribune, a New York newspaper.![]()
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This inspired him to propose the slogan "Sleep Like a Kitten" to advertise the railroad's new air conditioning feature. The cat illustration was adapted as the logo and came to be known as the Chessie cat. It was used for to attract travelers to the C&O for over 60 years.![]()
#FromTheArchives #localhistorymuseum #localhistorymatters #waynesboroheritagemuseumva #waynesborova
N & W Railroad Turntable![]()
Photograph dated February 1957![]()
The turntable was located on the west side of North Commerce Avenue where 6th Street crosses. The buildings on the right in the background are still standing.![]()
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#FromTheArchives #localhistorymuseum #localhistorymatters #waynesboroheritagemuseumva #waynesborova
Latest News & Events
New Exhibit: “A Century of Service”
In 2025, the Waynesboro Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs will both celebrate their 100th anniversaries in the community. The new exhibit at the Waynesboro Heritage Museum, “A Century of Service,” celebrates this milestone for the clubs, and will be on display until early 2025. Each club, in conjunction with the Waynesboro Heritage Museum staff, provided written…
New Plumb House Hours
As we make our way out of another winter hibernation, the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation is reopening the Plumb House Museum on a scheduled basis.Beginning April 11, 2024, the Plumb House will be open from 10am-1pm each Thursday. These hours will run from April through October 2024.As always, the Plumb House is also open by appointment.…
New Exhibit: “Foundations of Hope”
“Celebrating a Century of Waynesboro’s Rosenwald School and its Community”When Booker T. Washington, who had a vision to improve education facilities for rural African-American communities in the American South, joined forces with Julius Rosenwald (president of Sears, Roebuck & Co.) who was looking to find new ways to extend his philanthropic generosity, their partnership led…
New Exhibit: “Until the Cows Come Home”
“The Lost Town of Basic City and the Struggle that Built a Consolidated Waynesboro”Opening October 14, 2023, in conjunction with a renovated temporary exhibit space, is a brand new exhibit at the Waynesboro Heritage Museum that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the merger of Waynesboro and Basic City.On August 7, 1923, the townspeople from Waynesboro…
New permanent exhibit: “Out of the Archives”
Waynesboro has a deep and rich history. The Waynesboro Heritage Foundation has been fortunate over the years to have been entrusted by the community with its many artifacts, records, stories, and memories that document our city’s collective history. In fact, did you know that the Museum holds over 13,000 items? However, with limited exhibit space…
‘The Timeless Tunnel’
The Blue Ridge Tunnel recently opened as a new and amazing attraction in Virginia by using a long-abandoned and almost forgotten feat of engineering.