Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park
- Status
- Status not postedMon–Fri 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Memorial day through labor day)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listedAlso cabins
- Official site
- dcr.virginia.gov(276) 523-9640
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 1 acres, Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park lies in Wise County, in Big Stone Gap.
Visitors come for hiking and picnicking. There are also cabins for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Mon–Fri | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Memorial day through labor day |
| Mon–Fri | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — | |
| Tue–Fri | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | — | |
| Tue–Fri | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — | |
| Tue–Fri | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — | |
| Sat–Sun | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Park is closed in January and February. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the park is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., the rest of the year, the hours are Tuesday- Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. The park is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
'A parking fee is required to enter most Virginia State Parks.' False Cape, Natural Bridge, Sailor's Creek Battlefield, Staunton River Battlefield and Southwest Virginia Museum do not charge parking, but Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum charge admission.
Statewide fee rule from Virginia's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Virginia park passes
- Naturally Yours Passport — $85. Parking and admission for 12 months to all State Parks (admission for up to 4 at Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum) Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport — $40. Parking and admission for 12 months, age 62+ Details
- Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $180. Parking plus boat-launch / horse-trailer fees for 12 months Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $145. As above, age 62+ Details
From the Virginia state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Virginia State Parks reservation system (reservevaparks.com)
- Phone
- 800-933-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
There is an overnight pet fee. A fee is charged per pet per night for cottage stays.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
HikingPicnicking
Trails
The museum is an Audubon Bird Sanctuary, and many various songbirds can be seen on the grounds. A permanent outdoor exhibit, the Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame, showcases the region’s heritage. The exhibit advances the knowledge, awareness and appreciation of renowned Southwest Virginians, past and present, who have made significant contributions to the commonwealth, the nation and the world. The museum is within walking distance of the Bullitt Park/Greenbelt Trail. See more information on this trail.
Swimming
None at this park.
Boating, paddling and fishing
While there’s no fishing within this 1.5-acre park, the Powell River’s headwaters in Wise County offer good fishing for redbreast sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, catfish and muskie. There are no public access points on the Powell River so anglers should get permission from the landowner before accessing the river from private land. Lake Keokee is also nearby in Lee County. The lake offers largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Park or camp store
Lodging
- Cabins
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
Parking spots in the museum's rear and a sidewalk leading to the building are universally accessible. Two lifts provide access to the first floor and basement. The museum's restroom is not accessible. On request, however, staff will make available to disabled guests a restroom in the adjacent carriage house, which is closed to the public. Visitors in wheelchairs may visit the grounds, most of which are grassy and flat. Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trails, those using electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed there.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 10 West First St. N.
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 - Nearest town
- Big Stone Gap
- Coordinates
- 36.8633, -82.7796
- Phone
- (276) 523-9640
- SWVAMuseum@dcr.virginia.gov
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
The museum is in Big Stone Gap, off U. S. 23, at the corner of W. First Street North and Wood Avenue. It is 14 miles south of Norton and 35 miles northwest of Kingsport, Tenn. The facility is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Neighboring areas of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina are only a one to two hour drive away. Its address is 10 West First Street North, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219. Latitude, 36.863332. Longitude, -82.779592. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 9 hours; Richmond, 7 hours; Virginia Beach/Tidewater, 9 hours; Roanoke, 4 hours; Knoxville, Tenn., 2 hours; Lexington, Ky., 2.5 hours; Winston-Salem, N.C., 3 hours.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Sep 10, 2026
- Virginia State Parks 'Find a park' list (HTML, one 'Name (CODE)' link per park)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology