The Luray Valley Museum collection concentrates on the Shenandoah Valley. This unique collection ranges from pre-contact Native American history, First Frontier settlement, Colonial Iron Industry, Decorative Arts, Civil War and other subjects up to 1920.
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Col. Andrew Keyser 1770s leather breechesItalian glass trade beads found near Leedstown, VirginiaArchaic Native American stone vessel found near Swift Run Gap, VirginiaPages of the Strickler family Bible printed in Zurich, Switzerland in 1536. The Strickler family were some of the first settlers in the region in the early 1700sEarly 1900s Christmas Belsnickle masks. Belsnickling was a tradition with German roots in Page County until the 1950sBrainerd and Armstrong Company general store thread spool displayWhimsy bottle crafted in jail in the 1920s by a local man imprisoned for violent behavior fueled by alcoholismDetail of pie safe from Augusta CountyBattle tree from Sharpsburg battlefield, from the Peach OrchardLife size hand carved and painted wooden horse once used to display tack in a store in the late 1800sSilver inlay detail on a long rifle attributed to Daniel MarkerDetail of 1795 long rifle attributed to master gunsmith Henry Spitzer1830s Winchester, Virginia portrait attributed to Susannah Flaunteroy Quarles NicholsonCast iron entrance sign for Columbia Furnace, VirginiaPatented Civil War camp shower found on the Spotsylvania battlefieldEarly 1800s Virginia freight wagon from Newtown, VirginiaOne of several printing presses from the Henkel Press in New Market, VirginiaFrock and vest from the Modisett familyGerman Alphabet practice, Shenandoah CountyEarthenware pot from the Middle Woodland period, found in Page CountyNative American Late Woodland stone axes found locallyClock face detail from tall case clock made by local clockmaker Thomas Nawman in the 1780sLate 1600s silver buckles in original metal case brought from Germany by one of the area’s first settlers, Phillip LungMid 1700s “Elijah and the Ravens” stove plate, Pennsylvania1768 stove plate with Wedding Scene motif cast in Malboro Furnace, near Winchester, VirginiaDetail of circa 1810 stove cast at local Isabella FurnaceMid 1700s stove plate with “Three Hares” motif cast in Malboro Furnace, near Winchester, VirginiaTintype of David Hite, one of four local brothers fighting in the Confederate Army. Three died, including David whose body was never recovered from the Third Winchester battlefieldTintype of William Hite, 1st Lieut. 33rd VA Infantry. William died of complications from injuries sustained at the Battle of First Mannassas. The Hite brothers left extensive correspondence on their Civil War experienceTintype of Isaac Hite, staff rider for General Robert E. Lee. He was the sole survivor of his three brothers 1823 print by Henkel Press, New Market, VirginiaCirca 1800 chest painted by Johannes SpitlerCirca 1800 chest attributed to Johannes Spitler or Jacob StricklerCirca 1800 painted chest attributed to Johannes SpitlerCirca 1800 chest painted by Johannes SpitlerPre Civil War photo of African American woman and child holding a book. Found in nearby Sperryville, VirginiaMultiglaze wall pocket produced by Jacob EberlyDetail of fraktur for the birth of Solomon Rothgeb, painted by Jacob Strickler in 1809Early 1800s fraktur in German by Peter BernhardtPre Civil War image of unidentified African American woman found in Rockingham County.Opening page of a 1536 Bible printed in Zurich by Christopher Froschauer, illustrated by Hans Holbein, the Younger. This Bible was brought to America by the local Strickler family in the early 1700s.David Crocket’s autograph, May 18341813 fraktur in English by Peter Bernhardt1881 dog-powered butter churn 1855 Page County quilt in backgroundConfederate officers frock of Col. John Francis Neff, killed at the battle of 1st ManassasSix gallon crock made by potter W. H. Lehew in Strasburg, VirginiaCrock painted with “Indian necklace” design made by potter W. H. Lehew in Strasburg, VirginiaLate 1800s toy carriageToy rabbit and coin banks late 1800sMagic lantern, slides and German porcelain dollLate 1800s porcelain boy doll1840 painting of Jefferson’s Rock in Harpers Ferry by Ferdinand Reichardt
