Saltville merchants and organizations and Friends of the Museum have created a Winter Wonderland at the Museum of the Middle Appalachians. The exhibit opened Dec. 1, 2011 and will continue thru Jan. 3, 2012. The exhibit is free to the public and will definitely put you in the Christmas mood, bringing back Christmases of the past.

There are 17 Christmas trees provided and decorated by: BB&T Bank, Blue Gray Historic Group, Busy Bee Quilters, Cardwell Town Freewill Baptist Church, Creative Touch, First Christian Church Youth, Four Seasons Garden Club, MOMA, New Peoples Bank, Pizza Plus–Saltville, Friends of the Saltville Public Library, Saltville-Rich Valley Lions Club, Saltville Senior Citizens, Town of Saltville, Hardy Roberts Memorial, VFW Post 7328, Zumba–Saltville group.

Museum volunteers decorated a tree in red, white, and blue to honor men and women, past and present, who serve (served) in the armed forces. The girls of the Zumba dance-exercise group have a bright multi-colored white tree with cds, pictures, musical notes, etc. A tree has been decorated to honor the volunteers of the Bread of Life Food Pantry of Saltville. Covering half of one wall is Father Christmas or Santa Claus quilt of original design and creation. There are five hand crafted quilts on display.

Display cases include collections of the following: Angels, Nutcrackers, Nativity scenes, Bells, Reindeer, Music boxes.

The Big Ben Toyland of long ago Saltville includes the following: 20 dolls in all sizes and age; many games such as Trumpet, pick up sticks, the Famous Hall Game and board games; Riding toys – tricycles, scooters, little red wagon, and bicycle; little girl furniture such as child-sized table and chairs, kitchen play articles; little boys’ plastic horses and rider, trains, yoyo, and skates; a set of 1930’s antique toys.

 The Museum is open Monday – Saturday 10AM - 4 PM and Sunday 1-4 PM.  Permanent exhibits feature the geology of the Appalachians, the Ice Age, Native American culture, a new story of the arrival of Europeans to Southwest Virginia, the early salt industry, local influences on the Civil War, beginning of the chemical industry, life in a company town, and a misplaced salt water ecology.  The Museum documents 30,000 years of local history.   Annual Museum membership starts at $10 for an Individual.  Groups of 10 or more can be accommodated with a guided tour of the Museum for $1 per person. 

 For more information contact the Museum of the Middle Appalachians at 276-496-3633 or visit the museum’s website at www.museum-mid-app.org.

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