Lectures related to the current Botetourt County “250+1 Year of Delight” decorative arts exhibit at the Historical Society of Western Virginia begin June 30 with a talk by Mike Pulice, architectural historian with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
Pulice will speak on “Oriskany to Indian Rock: Sampling the Highlights of Botetourt County’s Rich Architectural Heritage.” His presentation includes an illustrated tour of some of the Botetourt County’s most interesting buildings and structures dating as far back as the Colonial period. Botetourt County has a diverse array of significant buildings and structures, including those related to agriculture, commerce, education, industry, transportation, religion and domestic life.
Other talks scheduled include:
- Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m. – Tom Klatka, archaeologist, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, on “Towards an Understanding of a Native American Legacy: Pre-contact origins and development of domesticated crops in Virginia”
- Wednesday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m. – Peggy Crosson, President, Virginia Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail, will take the audience through the trail.
- Thursday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m. – Wallace Gusler, master gunsmith, will speak on “Botetourt’s Gunsmiths.”
The lectures are part of the Kegley Lecture Series. They will be in person in the History Museum of Western Museum auditorium at Center in the Square, 101 Shenandoah Avenue, NE, Roanoke, but will include a Facebook Live component for those who cannot attend. Lectures will also be available through YouTube two days after the talk.
The series is sponsored by a grant from Virginia Humanities and Norris Inc. Bank of Botetourt is the major sponsor for the exhibit.
