Museum Exhibits
In 1900, Ashland became a 20th century town, along with the rest of the country and the world. The new century brought many new challenges and new ideas. Visit the Ashland Museum to explore Ashland's journey from 1900 to 1940. Panels describe developments and challenges of the 1900-1940 era in Ashland, VA. Objects on display in the New Century exhibit include vintage irons, sewing patterns and clothing.
This exhibit presents background on and a description of the two Ashland Historic Districts: the Randolph-Macon Historic College Complex and the Ashland Historic District. Designated in 1979 and 1983, respectively, each has specific boundaries, criteria for inclusion of structures and definitions of "contributing structures". 304 College Ave., Ashland, VA Five distinctive homes within the Ashland Historic District are profiled in this exhibit, exploring architectural styles and features as well as structural and family [...]
Exploring the Schools, Churches, Residences and Businesses of the Post Civil War Era Follow the growth of Ashland in post Civil War era in the museum’s new exhibit. Now on display at the Ashland Museum. Read about the development of public education in Ashland. See if you can help identify people in the school photo from the early 1880s. Learn how Ashland started with one community church and grew to nine churches. See the businesses [...]
The Ashland Museum new documentary film about Ashland, "A Railroad Runs Through It: The Unique History of a Virginia Train Town" premiered on Nov. 10, 2012 to great reviews from the audience at Ashland's Firehouse Theatre. Copies of the video on DVD are now available for sale at the Museum at $10. All proceeds from the sale of this DVD benefit the Ashland Museum. The title, “A Railroad Runs Through It,” is a nod to [...]
The museum’s first exhibit, “Antebellum Resort to Civil War Town: Ashland Virginia from 1836 to 1865” takes visitors from Ashland’s beginnings as Slash Cottage railroad resort to its Civil War experience. The exhibit includes a display of the Dawson family and the Civil War bullet they found in a fireplace while renovating an antebellum home on Railroad Avenue! There are period maps showing Civil War railroads in Central Virginia, including the RF&P railroad that runs [...]
Ashland's Red Caboose is a landmark at 105A Hanover Avenue, just across from Town Hall, near the intersection of Rt 54, the railroad tracks and Hanover Ave. This authentic 1926 C&O caboose, in service from Feb. 22, 1926 to Aug. 21, 1974, has much of its exterior and interior in original condition. Read more about the Red Caboose and about how cabooses were used on trains in our exhibit brochure: The Red Caboose – An [...]
The Ashland Museum received a grant in 2010 to prepare a history of Strawberry Faire. The video history presentation debuted at the 2011 Strawberry Faire event, Saturday, June 4. This event marked the 29th anniversary of the first Strawberry Faire event, which was in May, 1982. (For more info on the event, visit http://ashlandstrawberryfaire.com/) Copies of the video are available for purchase. Please get in touch with us via our Contact Us form or come [...]