The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Step back in time and experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

On the first Sunday of every month, our Self-care Sunday Series invites you to join in on various activities specially created to help us engage with the beautiful surroundings of Powhatan State Park.

Fun-ji, fun-gi, fun-gee?

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our Visitor Center.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Looking for that perfect selfie spot?

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Join professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch to learn about the remarkable springtime wild edible and medicinal plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Mason Neck is home to many Ospreys during the spring and summer months.

Grab your journal and come on down to the park and try your hand at a new skill - Nature Journaling!

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore the oldest dwelling on the grounds.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own 'fairy stone'.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Do you know how many common "weeds" have historic use as food and medicine?

Of all the mammals, opossums are the most misunderstood. They are fascinating creatures with very unique characteristics.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

Celebrate National Beaver Day a day early on Mason Neck’s Bay View Trail where you will be able to observe multiple beaver dams and a beaver lodge.

Ready, set, crawl, to join General Raphael, our non-releasable rescue eastern box turtle, as we explore more about her and the animal friends she shares her habitat with.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'fairy stone' that everyone is looking for.

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

Did you know there was once a thriving Boom Town located where our lake is today?

Step back in time under the flicker of firelight as we explore the intertwined stories of two soldiers whose lives converged outside the town of Farmville during the Appomattox Campaign.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?

Join us for a special guided battle walk commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Battles of High Bridge and the fighting around Farmville.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Are all snakes venomous?

Are you age 55+ with an interest in spending time in nature?

 Come along on a guided walk to imagine life as a tree. Is it time to draw on your reserves of sugars and starches and begin to bud?

Join us in solving a murder mystery through animal tracks.

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. .

Often overlooked as just a simple plant, lichen (which isn't even a plant) is one of nature's best examples of different organisms coming together to form a mutualistic relationship.

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced afternoon walk at Cliffview.

The forests are full of things both delicious and dangerous, but can you tell which is which?

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce the Spring semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program.

This is a fantastic time of year to take-in the beautiful spring ephemeral wildflowers of Southwest Virginia.

Come explore the historic town of Fries.

Let's go fishing with friends and family!

Come explore the historic town of Fries.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

See the majestic osprey right behind our Visitor Center.

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own 'fairy stone'.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Frogs, turtles, and fish, oh my!  Explore the water quality of the pond, while learning about the abundance of organisms that call this ecosystem home.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

Join a ranger on this guided hike and learn about the fascinating world of fungi.

Join a Kiptopeke Park Ranger for a guided hike through our nature trails.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

Bring along your partner and friends to embark on a way finding adventure through the Interpretive Area to earn a free Adult Adventurer key chain (Pre-registration recommended).

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'fairy stone' that everyone is looking for.

Come join a ranger on a spring flower hike.

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Have you met the animals living at Hungry Mother State Park's Discovery Center?

Come for the s’mores, stay for the fun!

Come take a walk with us under the glow of the moon to search for some of the park's most elusive night-time predators: owls! As we walk along under the quiet cover of darkness, we'll listen for their haunting voices as they cry out across the landscape.

The surface of the water might seem calm, but down under there is an exciting world filled with all kinds of life.

Event Registration is full!

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will offer a monthly "Birding in the Gap" program on the second Saturday of each month (with the exception of October and December).

Each month, volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to work together on a project that helps improve and maintain our beautiful park.

Join us every second Saturday at the Mayo River Trails to explore the future Mayo River State Park. You will also discover some interesting facts about local wildlife, and about the exploration of the area by William Byrd.

Flame and hammer.

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of vernal pools.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

As spring unfolds at Natural Tunnel State Park, the forest floor begins to come to life with the vibrant colors that Mother Nature offers.

Grab a wildlife scavenger hunt from the visitor center and discover a new way to explore.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

Bring your paws out to Caledon for a doggone egg-stravaganza!

Come walk the park's bluebird trail with a Virginia Master Naturalist as she checks the nestboxes and records data for the Virginia Bluebird Society.

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Come and discover the majestic aerial hunters and their habitats.

Join us in discovering the hidden wonders of these temporary seasonal ponds.

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Stop by this Chesapeake Bay display on your way to the beach to hear a short talk all about one of the nation’s most valuable waterways.

Meet us at the camp store to learn about the 7 Leave No Trace principles while we come together to clean our beaches.

The joy of nature journaling is not about being a perfect artist.

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Children ages 1 to 10 will hop along with the Easter Bunny as they search for elusive candy-filled eggs, some containing prizes.

Successful hunting and outdoor adventure depends on good planning and preparation, especially with the skills needed to survive the unexpected.

It's the most beautiful time of year!  Join us for a ranger-led hike down Bluebell Trail!

Meet a Ranger at the Visitor Center for a guided hike to see if you can spot any of our springtime birds.

Uncover the mysteries of mycology on this ranger-lead hike and learn more about the fungi that grows along the park’s trails.

Like all wild animals, black bears are food motivated.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own 'fairy stone'.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Reconnect with nature and your innate creativity with monthly Nature Journaling workshops led by Mary Larson, Virginia Master Naturalist.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

As the forest and meadows awaken from winter, we’ll explore the trails in search of delicate spring ephemerals like trillium, bloodroot, and trout lilies.

Join staff and volunteers from the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, April 12 for a historic cemetery preservation workshop at Big Stone Gap’s Glencoe Cemetery.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.