The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Cardinal News has embarked on a project to tell the little-known stories of Virginia’s role in the march to independence. This project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. Find all our stories from this project on the Cardinal 250 page. You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter:
Obviously, museums don’t come in one-size-fits-all.
Visitors found that out when an exhibition of a different kind rolled into town last week, inviting curious spectators to check out what was inside the mobile museum on wheels.
The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience, housed in a double-expandable tractor-trailer, caught the attention of visitors and members of the media last Friday, who were invited to tour the hands-on interactive museum temporarily displayed at Abingdon’s Food City, a supporter of the newly built mobile museum.
The mobile museum dedicated to Southwest Virginia was in town to kick off its grand tour on Friday, after which it will hit the road visiting various locations and schools across Virginia.
The mobile museum showcases Virginia’s role in the American Revolution, offering all ages the opportunities to learn about Virginia’s rich history and to commemorate Virginia’s role in American independence.
The museum on wheels visited E.B. Stanley Middle School while in town last week. Its goal is to host events at every middle school in the commonwealth over the next two years.
“We were very lucky to have this opportunity and so pleased that we were able to participate,” said Rebecca Austin, principal at E.B. Stanley Middle School. “A field trip is great, but a field trip that comes to our school is amazing.”
“Many of the students said, ‘wow, it’s a real museum on wheels!’ They loved the interactivity and hands-on aspects of the displays. Some of our sixth-grade history students also had a chance to visit the museum. For all, it was an enriching experience and one they will remember,” Austin added.
Amy Puckett, civics teacher at the middle school, said it was a good experience for all of her students.
“Our students were so impressed with the role of women and minorities in the American Revolution. They were unaware of the contributions each had made and they learned so much from the interactive exhibits. This experience gave them the opportunity to explore and ask questions,” said Puckett.
Celebrating a milestone
The interactive traveling exhibit is the work of Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), which has spent the past year preparing celebrations to mark the milestone of the country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.
The commission was established to commemorate Virginia’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence.
According to Cheryl Wilson, executive director of VA250, the mobile museum made its debut in Abingdon as the second model to be developed for the project.
‘The first mobile museum was so popular, and the demand was so great that we are able to launch our second Mobile Museum Experience starting here in Abingdon,” said Wilson, who was in attendance for the announcement of Food City’s partnership with the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience.
During the debut of the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience, Steve Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer, announced Food City’s partnership with the VA250 in support of the mobile museum.
Food City has pledged $100,000 in support of the project. The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience will be on site at select Virginia Food City locations throughout the year.
Smith said the mobile museum will be a valuable tool for Virginia students.
“The Mobile Museum Experience will provide consumers and students an opportunity to learn more about the vital role that Virginia played in America’s rich history in a vibrant and engaging format that really brings these stories to life,” said Smith.
“It’s [the mobile museum] a place you can easily spend more than an hour. It’s very interactive,” he said.
Interactive displays
Visitors to the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience can step back in time and learn about some of the pivotal events in Virginia’s history during the American Revolution.
Inside the mobile museum are interactive displays and technology exploring Virginia’s role in the American Revolution, highlighting key figures in history and even some overlooked stories.
As visitors enter the mobile museum, they can watch a hologram of Patrick Henry delivering his famous speech “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Titled “Out of Many, One,” the mobile museum uses touchscreen interactive displays and activities while highlighting diverse figures such as the indigenous, enslaved, free Black people and women who played a part in the American Revolution, as well as key events, such as the Battle of Kings Mountain.
“The mobile museum is bringing the stories of Virginia’s rich and diverse history directly to schools, fairs, museums, community events, libraries, and festivals all across the commonwealth from Abingdon to Alexandria, and Winchester to Williamsburg and everywhere in between,” said Wilson.
The museum promises to captivate its audiences, she said.
“Wherever you are in this museum, there will be something that’s of interest to you,” said Wilson, standing in front of an interactive display of “Virginia Changemakers.”
Among the unknown faces on the exhibit is Molly Adams, a native woman who helped to shape her community in the face of segregation. “She was a change maker. She made the world better,” said Wilson.
Wilson related the story of a woman who recently spotted the face of Adams while visiting the mobile museum. “She announced to us that Molly Adams was her grandmother,” said Wilson, amazed by the connection.
“Most of what made America happened right here in Virginia — the people, the ideas, and the documents. The privilege is now ours,” she said.
Exhibits cover key events such as the Siege of Yorktown. An immersive room features a hologram of an actor delivering Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech.
An exhibit is devoted to the women who contributed to the fight for independence. Another exhibit features stories of the Battle of Kings Mountain, highlighting Southwest Virginia’s role and the bravery of the Overmountain Men.
Visitors can test their knowledge by taking a simulated U.S. citizenship test on a touchscreen display.
Wilson said the exhibit “1776: Words for a New Nation” is one of her favorite displays. The display explores the ideas, people and events that forged the nation.
“It was a revolution of ideas as much as it was a Revolutionary War,” she said. “We take this for granted that we are the only nation that wasn’t founded on religion or geography, but by ideas. And, those ideas are from Virginia and from Virginians.”
Local leaders in town praised the mobile museum for helping to teach important facts about Virginia history.
“If you follow history, it’s amazing how a beautiful little town in Southwest Virginia was so integral to the future of the country,” said Mike Cochran, Abingdon town manager.
“The mobile museum is really neat. If you don’t know the history, you’ll know it when [the tour] is done. It’s amazing.”
“I’m very excited to have this mobile museum here and for all the stories it brings with it about our region,” said Becky Nave, director of Destination Development and Advocacy for Virginia Tourism Corporation. “It’s especially important for our youth to have access to the museum and the opportunities to learn about our history.”
Wilson encourages people to share their stories about their communities or family members who contributed to the country’s fight for independence by writing to VA250 at www.VA250.org.