Welcome to

              VIRGINIA AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S

           HERITAGE MUSEUM

              P. O. Box 736
             800 9th Avenue North
              Virginia, Minnesota 55792
             218-741-1136
              history@2z.net

Located in beautiful Olcott Park, the museum complex consists of the former park superintendent's residence, a Finnish log house and a 1930s tourist cabin. Permanent exhibits depict logging and lumbering industries, Virginia's fires of 1893 and 1900, and Olcott Park's Master Gardener Gunnar Peterson.

"Dancing Through the Years" is the current featured exhibit. It showcases the history of dance in our area including dance instructors Wilhelmina Gardner, Ida Canossa and Erveen Serra. The career of Mt. Iron native Tony Charmoli, who became famous as a choregrapher and dancer, is on display. Also long-time Virginia resident Alice Appel, who was a professional dancer in the 1930s and 1940s, is featured. Many photos and costumes of dance students throughout the years are shown.


Pretty Costumes.


1949 Dance Recital.
Costume worn by Tom Turja on the left.


Alice Appel viewing display of her professional dance career.

 

HOURS

The museum is open from 11:00 - 4:00 on the following days:

  • May 1st through September 30th    Wednesday through Saturday

  • October 1st through April 30th       Thursday, Friday, & Saturday

    • Admission to the museum is by donation. Tours are given throughout the day and the facility is handicapped accessible. Special arrangements may be made for groups or classes.

     

    Friends of B'nai Abraham have made the former synagogue into a museum and cultural center. Virginia Area Historical is working in partnership with them. The building is located at the corner of 4th Avenue and 5th Street South in Virginia. At this time the building is open by appointment only. Please call 218-741-1136 to make arrangements. In addition to historical displays, visitors will enjoy the builidng itself with its beautifully restored stained glass windows.

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    Preserving our history - Our Gift for tomorrow