History Museum of Western Virginia, Roanoke

As the keepers of their region's heritage, members of the Historical Society of Western Virginia know that best way to spread political traditions is through engaging public exhibits. That's why they operate two museums dedicated to Western Virginia's unique culture.

As a key battleground in the Civil War, West Virginia has no shortage of history for the curators at the History Museum of Western Virginia to draw upon. They leave no manuscript, periodical, or photograph unturned, using the museum's own vast library to build exhibits that celebrate formative moments in the Commonwealth's history. Sometimes, they go back even further. The museum's primary exhibit, Crossroads of History, interprets 10,000 years of heritage through artifacts such as Native American arrowheads, pottery, and the "Rawrenoke" beads that lend their name to the city of Roanoke.

At the O. Winston Link Museum, exhibits focus on more recent—and locomotive—history. Drawn from the collection of photographer Winston Link, the museum continues its namesake's quest to document and memorialize the bygone steam engines of the Norfolk and Western Railway. In addition to housing more than 300 images of these country-conquering machines, the museum also hosts temporary exhibits of other historically significant photos; recent shows featured a collection of Winston Link's work in the world of advertising, and lithographs from engine designer Raymond Loewy.