Looking for a free summer activity? Locals and visitors can experience Roanoke’s history and small-town charm at the Visitor’s Center & Museum.
The museum is located in the former Silver Spur Saloon at 114 N. Oak St. After an extensive renovation, it opened to the public in 2008. There are several permanent exhibits, including artifacts from Roanoke’s past. This summer, the museum will host a special exhibit dedicated to vintage toys.
“It shows how far we’ve come, while also keeping us firmly rooted in the roots that make Roanoke so special and unique,” said Communications and Marketing Administrator Carissa Katecal. “We’ve grown so much over the years, but we still offer that small-town charm. It’s a nice escape from reality and feels like a little step back in history.”
When you visit the museum, you can experience the following:
There’s a Texas Pacific Railroad exhibit, a textile collection from the 1890s, mammoth and mastodon fossils, World War II military uniforms, a photography exhibit. “You can tell an incredible number of stories through visual storytelling, and the Visitor Center & Museum arranges them in such a wonderful way to visually tell the story of what life was like in Roanoke in the old days,” Katecal said.
Currently, the museum is hosting a special exhibit of vintage toys from the 1950s and 1960s, which includes classic items like Tonka Toys, Radio Flyer wagons, and “Sesame Street” memorabilia. The exhibit runs throughout the summer, making it the perfect indoor activity to escape the Texas heat.
In addition to the exhibits, the Visitor Center & Museum offers a variety of interactive activities. One popular activity is the Oak Street Treasure Hunt, where visitors can pick up a treasure hunt sheet and explore the historic buildings along Oak Street. This photo-based treasure hunt is a fun and educational way for families to connect with the town’s history.
The museum and treasure hunt are free activities available to residents and visitors.
“These are all free events that are fun for the whole family,” Katecal said. “The city of Roanoke is really committed to providing free fun for the community.”
If you’d like to learn more about Roanoke’s history, staff at the Visitor’s Center & Museum offer a historical walking tour that takes you to 15 significant sites along Oak Street. On the tour, you’ll stop at century-old homes and businesses, a century-old fire engine, and learn more about the brothel and dance hall that is said to have been located above the Silver Spur Saloon.
“We have some amazing women working at the museum who are incredibly knowledgeable about Roanoke history,” Katecal said. “If you’re a history buff, I encourage you to come and meet them and pick up all the fun historical information.”
In addition to the exhibits and tours, the museum also sells unique souvenirs, including t-shirts and Christmas ornaments featuring historic Oak Street and the new City Hall. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, the museum offers a unique insight into Roanoke’s charm.
More information about the visitor center and museum can be found here.
The above story was produced by multiplatform journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro and the Community Impact storytelling team. Information was provided exclusively by local businesses as part of “sponsored content” purchased by local businesses through our advertising team.
