The Historical Society of Western Virginia in Roanoke will open “Botetourt County: 250 +1 Years of Delight” on April 24, an ambitious exhibit telling the history of Botetourt through its decorative arts from architecture to kitchenware. Bank of Botetourt, which traces its county roots to 1899, is the major sponsor for the exhibit, which features more than 300 items on loan from museums and private collectors. Covid-19 delayed the exhibit from 2020, the 250th anniversary of the founding of Botetourt County.
Highlights include a dozen locally forged guns and a gown Ann Cary Selden Breckinridge of Botetourt County wore to a Congressional Ball in Washington, D. C., where her husband served in the House of Representatives from 1809 to 1817. The gown is on loan from Colonial Williamsburg. An 1840 sampler stitched by Eliza Pitzer has traveled from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) in Winston-Salem, N.C. Contemporary artists, including Jake Cress of Fincastle with his whimsical furniture, are featured as well.
Botetourt was formed from Augusta County and is named after Gov. Norborne Berkeley (ca. 1717-1770), also known as Lord Botetourt. At the time of its creation, Botetourt County continued west to the Mississippi River and northward into the Ohio River Valley Territory, covering the present state of Kentucky and much of what is now West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Later in the year, a series of lectures funded by the Virginia Endowment for the Humanities and Norris Inc. will delve deeper into historical topics related to the exhibit.
The History and Link museums will close at end of day April 10 to give time for final preparations for the opening on April 24.
Social distancing and face covering policies will continue to be in place at the museum.
