The Artisans Center of Virginia established The Artisan Trail to promote statewide artisan enterprises that contribute to the vitality and character of Virginia communities. One of these sites is the Shenandoah Heritage Village at the Luray Valley Museum in Luray Virginia. A list of creative excursions on The Artisan Trail can be found on their website at www.artisantrailnetwork.org
Last April, I did a story on the artifacts in the interior of the Luray Valley Museum and today we will look at a few of the Heritage Village 1800’s buildings. Most were relocated here from other Virginia historic sites and one is a recreation.
The Stonyman Mining Company exhibit is a recreated mining sluice that is interactive where kids and adults can roll up their sleeves and learn how early miners sluiced for gold and gems.
The Shenk Farmhouse is at its original location where the Shenk family farmed this area around the famous caverns for generations. Live demonstrations are performed periodically at the 1850 Blacksmith Shop which was relocated from the Lee Plantation in Lynchburg Virginia and is constructed from Chestnut logs.
The 1885 Hamburg African American Regular School was moved here from its original location about one mile away. It is one of the earliest surviving African American one-room school houses in Virginia. Most all the furniture is original, children’s scribblings can still be seen on the walls, and pieces of cloth were stuffed between the boards to hold back the cold wind drafts.
The Heartpine Café is a great place for a nice relaxing lunch and to sample local wines. It is located in the “Switzer” style Burner Barn which is a now rare log barn since most were burned during the American Civil War. It was moved here piece by piece from a farm on the Shenandoah River.
The museum address is 970 US Highway 211 West, Luray, Virginia 22835, USA.
Ample parking at the museum is free and admission is included with the Luray Caverns General Admission Ticket. Though there are many types of ticket discounts, at the door tickets are Adults $30, Seniors 62+ $27, and Children 6-12 $15. In addition to entrance to the Caverns tours and Valley Museum, the ticket also includes admission to the Antique Toy Junction Museum and the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum.
Luray has no train service; its old station is now a visitor center and train museum. Travel from Washington, DC (about 90 miles) is by car, or by a bus and taxi combo.
The Shenandoah Valley, where Luray is located, has many other attractions nearby. Adventures such as horseback riding, river canoeing, ziplining, cycling and wilderness camping are plentiful. Local vineyards conduct wine tasting and Luray borders the Shenandoah National Park which has many more natural sites and attractions for the entire active family.
If you get there early in the morning, I suggest you buy your ticket before the late morning and afternoon crowds queue up. The museum is generally open from 9AM to 6PM, with a little longer hours in the summer and shorter hours in the winter.
