Location: Staunton
Top Things to do in Staunton
The 8 Best Museums in Staunton, Virginia (VA)
The city planners in Staunton, Virginia, were very careful to preserve the town's heritage, keeping power lines and cell towers out of view in the historic districts, allowing nothing to interrupt the charm of local restaurants and shops operating out of original Victorian storefronts. Staunton is also the home to the Frontier Culture Museum, The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and the American Shakespeare Center, staging plays at the world's only replica of the Blackfriars Playhouse.
Restaurants in Staunton
1. Frontier Culture Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 689 reviews
The Frontier Culture Museum is an outdoor living history museum that tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendants. The Museum shows how a new and unique culture evolved in early America from its roots in the Old World. Living History interpreters work in original and reconstructed buildings from Europe, Africa, and America to illustrate how diverse people and cultures blended together into a new American way of life. The Museum operates on about 200 acres with 11 major exhibits divided into 2 sections: The Old World, and America. The Old World exhibits show rural life and culture in four homelands of early migrants to the American colonies. The American exhibits show the life these colonists, slaves, and their descendants created in the colonial back-country, how this life changed over more than a century, and how life in the United States today is shaped by its frontier past.
Reviewed By nfireman - Washington DC, United States
We were visiting Charlottesville for the first time and a coworker recommended this museum. So glad we made the trip, as the golf cart tour was awesome and we went to visit the cute little town of Staunton afterwards. We enjoyed learning the history and seeing the different homesteads--I got some ideas for hobbies I'm going to take up! We learned about slavery in this part of U.S. during the colonial time period, but only because we asked questions about it. I would recommend having that information as a regular part of the tour, as it was a terrible truth of the time. I'd love to come back when everything is in full swing here! Thanks to our great tour guides.
2. Sunspots Studios
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 260 reviews
Watch Art Happen at Sunspots Studios! See live glass blowing demonstrations daily until 4pm. Our gallery/gift shop is filled with colorful hand-blown glass made in our studios. Vases, bird feeders, oil candles, drinking glasses, ornaments and more glitter in our gallery. Blow your own ornament with the assistance of one of our glass blowers. We also carry local and American artisan-made jewelry and accessories, including Alex and Ani jewelry. Don't miss Virginia's most unique shopping experience.
3. R.R. Smith Center for History & Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By abbyb2016 - London, United Kingdom
This is a nice visit for art lovers and art fearers alike. It's not the NY Met, overwhelming and intimidating. It's a beautiful, small, well-located, and free museum in the center of Staunton. Yet, it has accessible and changing historical exhibits -- when we visited there was an early American silver exhibit along with historical wine-growing maps of France -- and also features local artists.You'll be in and out within less than an hour. Go!
4. Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 448 reviews
Reviewed By RLWOrangePark - Ponte Vedra Beach, United States
It was not until we started to explore day-trips outside of Charlottesville VA that we realized that President Wilson's Presidential Library was located in Staunton VA. This is about 40 miles west of Charlottesville via I-64. The extensive museum and library exhibits explore the life and times of Woodrow Wilson, his youth, his early career as a lawyer and law professor, President of Princeton University, Governor of New Jersey and President of the United States. It also explores the period of suffrage and prohibition, the declaration of war against Germany, World War I, his negotiations during the treaty of Versailles, his quest to establish the League of Nation (United Nations) and his winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Two very interesting exhibits are the President’s restored 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine and the World War I trench exhibit complete with lights and sound to experience what life was like for soldiers as they engaged in battle. There is also an exhibit on the Gatlin Brothers who are also from the town of Staunton. Surrounding the museum and library is an attractive boxwood garden. As this library pre-dates the National Presidential Libraries Act, it is not part of the Federal National Archives Presidential Library System and as such does not receive any federal funding. But they have done an excellent job and the museum and library are well worth a visit. Next to the museum is President Wilson's birthplace, a beautiful pre-Civil War manse (a house provided by the Presbyterian Church to his minister father). The self-guided tour of the museum and its 7 galleries costs $15 for adults, $14 for seniors (60 and above) and active duty military and $8 for children ages 6 to 15. Hours of operation vary per season but are normally 9 AM to 5 PM, and 12 noon to 5 PM on Sunday.
5. Camera Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
Tours are available: $5.00 self guided, $7.50 audio tour, Curator guided (add'l): 20.00 We have a vast collection of cameras that show the evolution of photography.
Reviewed By jcholko300
I'm not particularly interested in cameras, but I really enjoyed visiting this museum. The place is extremely interesting with thousands of cameras from every place and time. Old photos and documentation from all over the world are hear for you to enjoy and remember from your past. A great place in a quaint little town! Only bad part - the store can only hold 35% of all the memorabilia it has; so it's jam-packed in a tasteful way. If you have any curiousity, you can be there for an hour or two.
6. Bruce A. Elder Antique and Classic Automobiles Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Located in the downtown historic district of Staunton, VA, Bruce A. Elder Antique And Classic Automobiles displays important automobiles from the dawn of motoring through the muscle car era. Housed in the famous Beverley Garage Building, constructed in 1911 as "The Finest Garage In The South", visitors can tour an ever-changing collection of rare and exciting vehicles spanning nearly 100 years. Professionally guided tours are scheduled on Friday's and Saturday's only. Tour times are 10:30, 1:30, 3:00 and 5:00 both days. Tour cost is $5 per person, age 16 and over. Attended children are free. Club and special tours at other times can sometimes be accommodated for a minimum of 20 guests. Please call us if you are coming a significant distance, as we are sometimes called away.
Reviewed By jerzygrl429 - Yorktown, United States
This place was great if you like old cars - definitely sign up for the tour - the guide was so knowledgeable and gave great facts. Definitely a must-see
7. Eavers Classic Cars
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 11 reviews
8. Sma-vwil Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
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