Europeans occasionally disparage American history, because by their standards, it is all so recent.  These critics could not find fault with Historic Crab Orchard Museum because history here is interpreted from 570,000,000 years ago to modern times.  The museum and Pioneer Park are located on a portion of a 110-acre prehistoric archeological site.

Documented evidence indicates that Native Americans lived here 1,200 years ago, and many archeologists believe it may have been as much as 14,000 years.  The museum’s exhibits of fossils from this prehistoric period include the leg bone and teeth of a huge mastodon that foraged here millions of years ago.  There is also a casting of a 300-million-year-old lepidodendron tree, unearthed as it was showing signs of turning to coal.

The region’s first prehistoric inhabitants arrived from Asia by crossing the Bering Straits.  The Cherokees, the last of the Native Americans to have settlements in this part of southwest Virginia, were forced out by warring Shawnees and European pioneers.  Pottery, hunting, cooking and trade items from the Cherokee period are exhibited in the museum and there is a diorama of their settlement on this site.  One fascinating piece is a Woodland Period stone effigy, circa 1550.

The first English explorers crossed the mountains into this part of Virginia in the late 1600s.  Diary entries indicate that it rained continually during their passage over the Allegheny range and they mistakingly believed the rivers and fog-shrouded plains they saw west of the mountains were the tidal waters of the Pacific Ocean.  The ocean was the original western boundary of Virginia.

Gradually permanent settlers moved into the region from the colonies of Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina and from eastern Virginia.  There were formal land surveys and large tracts of land were granted; one recipient was Patrick Henry (see Red Hill selection).  The museum has agricultural tools and household items from these early pioneers. But in its Pioneer Park, their way of life comes alive.  Thirteen historic log and stone buildings bring back the 1830s.  The Thompson Valley farmhouse has three buildings connected by a breezeway, or dogtrot.  Inside you will see a spinning wheel and spartan furnishings. In addition to the living quarters there is a kitchen and lard house.  The latter was used to store salted meats, lard, pickled foods and preserves.

Other buildings include Major David Peery’s 1805 log home.  It is obvious he was financially secure as his windows have six panes of glass, meaning he was willing to pay the special tax on windows with more than four panes.   The park also has a blacksmith shop, smokehouse, hunter’s cabin, carpenter and cobbler’s shop, apple house, loom house and corncribs.  Its largest reconstruction is an 1880 log farmstead.

 Fields and gardens typical of the frontier era are planted in season and tended by hand.  Of special note are trees replanted from the birthplaces of historic figures: Robert E. Lee, George Washington, Cyrus McCormick and Helen Keller.  Near the loom house is a fenced herb garden; a pamphlet lists the early 19th-century varieties you will see growing and gives their medicinal use.  Herbs include sage, lemon balm, oregano, lavender, jasmine, thyme, horehound, rue, chives, bee balm, sorrel, lamb’s ear, germander, tansy, lovage and comfrey.

There is also a horse-drawn equipment barn that has one of only two known original McCormick reapers made near Staunton (see McCormick Farm selection), along with later, more mechanized models. The barn also has buggies, a flax brake, dog-powered treadmill, pony cart and a wide array of agricultural equipment.  A 1917 Model T Ford is a frequent participant in local parades. Near the old Ford is a gravity-operated gasoline “pump.”

Agricultural pursuits are explored in Pioneer Park, but the concurrent industrialization of the country is explored in the museum.  Exhibits focus on the coal mining that was significant to this region.  Finally, the museum is noted for its diverse collection of weapons.  Swords, sabers, matchlock rifles, blunderbusses, flintlocks and more up-to-date martial gear are displayed.

Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park are open year round weekdays and Saturdays 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.  They are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day plus Sundays and Mondays from November through March.  Admission is charged.  There is a museum shop with crafts, arts, recordings, books and toys.  You can purchase refreshments and there is a picnic shelter on the grounds.  For additional information call (540) 988-6755.

Directions: From I-81 at Abingdon take Alt. 58 west, then Route 19 north.  Just before Tazewell you  will see the museum and park on your right off Route 19/460.  An alternative route is to take the I-77 Bluefield exit off I-81 and head west on Route 52, then proceed south on Route 19/460.