SAVE THE DATE as YOU are cordially invited to attend the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation Annual Meeting & Kegley Preservation Award Presentations on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 beginning at 5:30 PM.
Colony House Motor Lodge
3560 Franklin Road SW
Roanoke, VA 24014

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Light refreshments will be available

Everyone Is Welcome

Hope to see you there!

Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation’s 6th annual “Pints for Preservation Pub Crawl and History Scavenger Hunt” is Back

September 27, 2025

The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation’s (RVPF) 6th annual “Pints for Preservation Pub Crawl and History Scavenger Hunt” is back and YOU and your friends are cordially invited to participate!

SAVE THE DATE and REGISTER TODAY!

When:  Saturday September 27, 2025 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 

Where:  This year’s Annual RVPF Pub Crawl & History Scavenger Hunt begins at Corn Beef & Co. located at 107 S. Jefferson Street in Roanoke, VA. 

Cost:

$30/person,
$60 for a team of 2,
$90 for a team of 3, or
$100 for a team of 4.

Team registration is highly recommended!

Tickets:  
Tickets are available through Eventbrite or contact Whitney Leeson (wleeson@roanoke.edu) to pay by check.

About the Event:
The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation’s Annual Pub Crawl and History Scavenger Hunt is a fun way to learn more about Roanoke’s historic landscape while helping the foundation raise money to further our mission of preserving the valley’s most important architectural and cultural icons.

Compete for prizes by completing a fun 1920s history-themed scavenger hunt featuring questions about people and places important to Roanoke’s past!

Participants proceed at their own pace visiting participating establishments after checking in at Corn Beef & Co between 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM where they will receive their History Scavenger Hunt instructions and sign a liability waiver.

Food and beverage specials will be available at the participating establishments on the pub crawl. (No purchase is required to compete in the History Scavenger Hunt.) In addition, a RVPF host will be at each establishment to provide a local history trivia question to those participating in the History Scavenger Hunt.

End your pub crawl by 5:00 p.m. at a designated location where you will turn in your History Scavenger Hunt question answers. RVPF hosts will then tally the scores of the correct answers submitted, the results will be announced, and prizes will be awarded.

Participating teams who choose to dress in 1920s historical fashion – “dress your decade” – will receive one (1) free History Scavenger Hunt answer to give them a leg up on those who do not!

Additionally, teams who dress in historical fashion will also be entered into a costume contest!

Thank You To Our Sponsors & Supporters:

Thanks to our event sponsors: Brown/Edwards Certified Public Accountants, Balzer & Associates, Brian Wishneff & Associates, and D. David Parr, Jr. Esq. along with our event supporters: Fire Station 1 Boutique Hotel, Corn Beef & Co., BILLY’S Roanoke, 202 Social House, and Well Hung Vineyard & Restaurant Roanoke who without their support, this event would not be possible.  THANK YOU!!

This year’s prizes include a one night stay at Roanoke’s Fire Station 1 Boutique Hotel, gift cards, and more.

This is one fun event you will not want to miss!! So forward this email to your friends and family 
and

REGISTER TODAY!

The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, Inc. regularly publishes a bi-annual newsletter that shares historic, cultural, and natural preservation-related information and activities taking place throughout the Roanoke Valley, the surrounding counties and their municipalities.

We hope you will enjoy our most recent issue:  

2025 Summer Focus on Preservation Newsletter

Visit our website’s Newsletter page for a comlisting of past newsletters.

As the month of May is designated as Preservation Month each year, several organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Virginia, and the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation announce their annual Endangered Sites list to call attention to our historical places and the possibility that these significant sites are in danger of being lost forever unless efforts are made to preserve them.

(Recent demolition of early 1900’s residential buildings on Richlieu Ave SW in Roanoke, VA)

2025 RVPF Endangered sites

The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation’s annual Endangered Sites list is not to shame or punish the current owners but to bring attention to these sites and encourage their preservation and stewardship. The goal is to work closely with property owners and local governments in exploring options to promote their preservation. 

Only by ongoing public awareness, partnerships and collaborations, innovative technologies, sustainable conservation practices, education and capacity-building programs, and government can we ensure the continued protection and conservation of these valuable cultural assets.  

Previous RVPF Endangered Sites listings

Visit our Endangered Sites page for additional information including lists from previous years. 

2026 RVPF Endangered sites

If you know of a significant historical, natural, and/or cultural sites in the Roanoke Valley that may be in eminent danger of being lost due to deferred maintenance, demolition, or incompatible development, please submit a 2026 Endangered Site Nomination Form by April 13, 2026 for consideration in next year’s Endangered Site listing.

The 3rd annual Wickets & Wine is being held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at the historic Mountain View mansion, 714 13th Street, SW Roanoke, VA 24016 beginning at 11am and ending at 3pm.

Hosted by Friends of Mountain View, Inc., Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, Inc., and Roanoke City Parks & Recreation, this annual fundraising event creates an opportunity for you to dress in your croquet white linen shirts, pants, and dresses – with matching hats of course – to sip wine and sparkling while having a “mahvelous” time playing croquet on the lawns of Roanoke’s Historic Mountain View mansion, viewing vintage automobiles, touring the mansion, and more.

As wickets dot the freshly mowed lawn of this historic estate, participants will be provided a boxed picnic lunch, while on the mansion’s immense front porch, a selection of adult beverages and water will be available as this venue kicks off the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

The ticket price of $50 includes a boxed lunch, unlimited popcorn, croquet on the lawn and other lawn games, a guided tour of the first and second floor of the mansion, entry into a drawing for several door prizes, and more. You could even win a prize for best dressed! In addition, a cash/card bar will be available for adult beverages.

Register TODAY at PLAY ROANOKE

A Shout Out and Thank You to Our Event Sponsors:

We graciously thank our event sponsors for without their support this event would not be possible!

Colony House Motor Lodge

Nelson & Brenda Greene

Building Specialists

Hill Studio

Gentry Locke Attorneys

Spectrum Design, P.C.

Alleghany Partners

Cary Street Partners

Davidsons

MKB Realtors

D. David Parr, Esq.

Event Sponsorship Opportunities

We graciously thank our event sponsors for without their support this event would not be possible!  Sponsoring events for the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation and Friends of Mountain View can offer a variety of benefits. Here are some key points to consider:
1. Community Engagement: Your sponsorship can enhance your visibility in the community and foster a positive connection with local residents who value the importance of preserving our historic and natural assets.
2. Brand Recognition: Associating your brand with a respected organizations like the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation and Friends of Mountai View can enhance your reputation and increase brand awareness among attendees and participants.
3. Networking Opportunities: Events often attract community leaders, elected officials, stakeholders, and other businesses, providing opportunities for valuable networking and partnerships.
4. Supporting Local Heritage: By sponsoring preservation-related events, you contribute to the conservation of our local history and culture which can resonate well with customers who prioritize these ideals in our community.
5. Positive Publicity: Engaging in community-oriented sponsorships can often lead to positive media coverage enhancing your brand’s public image.
6. Employee Engagement: Involvement in local community events can boost employee morale and engagement as your staff members appreciate working for a company that supports local causes.
7. Tax Benefits: Sponsoring non-profit events may also offer potential tax deductions, depending on your business structure and local laws.

In Summary, sponsoring the annual Wickets & Wine event creates a win-win for you and us by supporting important preservation efforts oh historic Mountain View while also benefiting your organization. This year, there are three (3) primary levels of sponsorships: 

Event Sponsor –$1500

Court Sponsor–$750

Friend Sponsor –$350.

As an event sponsor, your company logo will be included on all digital marketing materials (including Roanoke Parks and Recreation, Friends of Mountain View and Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation websites, event signage, newsletters, emails, and social media posts) and is sized according to your sponsorship level. Other sponsorship perks are also provided! 

For additional information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, contact Alison Blanton at alisonsblanton@gmail.com

Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation Seeks 2025 Endangered Historic Site Nominations

If you are aware of a historic site that may be in eminent danger of being lost due to deferred maintenance, demolition, or incompatible development, please let us know by completing, saving and emailing the 2025 RVPF Endangered Historic Sites Nomination Form today!

Remember the intent is not to shame or punish the current owners but to bring attention to these sites and encourage their preservation and stewardship. The goal is to work closely with property owners and local governments in exploring options to promote their preservation. 

COMPLETE & SUBMIT your 2025 Endangered Historic Sites Nomination Form TODAY!!

Submissions are due by Monday, April 14, 2025.

For additional information, email Judy Harrison, Endangered Sites Committee Chair or call 540-343-8691.

Visit our website’s Endangered Sites page for additional information including prior endangered sites announcements

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation co-hosted Dr. Alex Long in a joint presentation titled, Victory Stadium:  How a Lawyer, a Minister and 20 Football Players Helped End Segregation in Virginia and Professional Sports in the Logan Gallery on the campus of Roanoke College in Salem, VA. 

Based upon his article to appear in the next Journal of the Historical Society of Western Virginia, Dr. Alex Long, professor of the of the University of Tennessee College of Law, spoke to 70 people about an event in August of 1961 when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Colts were scheduled to play a pre-season football game at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, Virginia. However, at that time, a Virginia statute required that seating for the contest be segregated. In response to the decision by local organizers and officials to sell tickets to the game on a segregated basis, a local civil rights lawyer and a local minister worked together to bring national attention to the injustice of the law by organizing the first successful civil rights boycott of a professional sporting event.

Following his presentation, Dr. Long held a Q & A session followed by a ‘meet and greet complemented with light refreshments.   

A Zoom recording was made of Dr. Long’s presentation for the convenience of those unable to attend. It will be available for viewing until February 2026.

https://roanoke-edu.zoom.us/rec/share/dQpeO8DQsvGFbv9M5Xb90NFEPjpSoIayIY3km_19tFDRxl4AlLDUaYSFIep8WTdk.VJ7x0XmQqOLlf18N   Passcode: R9+c#c.G

This event was a joint presentation of the Historical Society of Western Virginia, Roanoke College Anthropology Concentration, Roanoke College Center for Studying Structures of Race, Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, and Salem Museum and Historical Society.

Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation is thrilled to announce an engaging series of history-based lectures taking place during Ferbuary 2025 that you will not want to miss!!

Mark your calendars now for these thought-provoking events!

Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 7PM
Victory Stadium:  How a Lawyer, a Minister and Twenty Football Players Helped End Segregation in Virginia and Professional Sports with Alex Long

In August 1961, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Colts were scheduled to play a pre-season football game at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, Virginia. However, a Virginia statute required that seating for the contest be segregated. In response to the decision by local organizers and officials to sell tickets to the game on a segregated basis, a local civil rights lawyer and a local minister worked together to bring national attention to the injustice of the law by organizing the first successful civil rights boycott of a professional sporting event.

Based on his article in the next Journal of the Historical Society of Western Virginia, Professor Alex Long of the of the University of Tennessee College of Law will deliver the talk on February 13, 2025 at 7pm in the Logan Gallery on the campus of Roanoke College. The talk is free and open to the public.

Parking for this event is available in the following Roanoke College parking lots: P10, P11, P14 and P28.

This event is a joint presentation of the Historical Society of Western Virginia, Roanoke College Anthropology Concentration, Roanoke College Center for Studying Structures of Race, Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, and Salem Museum and Historical Society.

If you are unable to attend in person, you can also view Dr. Long’s presentation via livestream/zoom.  

Hope to see you there!

February 20, 2025 @ 6PM
Uncovering & Honoring Hollins Community History

Join researcher and Hollins alumina Brittany Flowers and learn about the Hollins Community Memory Project, a research initiative dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of families from the Hollins Community — a community whose ancestors were enslaved by Hollins University’s founder and those closely associated with the institution. Through their resilience and labor, these individuals helped build and shape the university while creating a rich, historic community of their own.

Attendees will gain insight into the project’s collaborative and respectful approach to ethical storytelling practices, emphasizing accountability, transparency, restorative research.

This event is a joint presentation between the Christiansburg Institute, Inc. and Roanoke Public Libraries.

February 27, 2025 @ 6PM
Virginia Untold

Join Library of Virginia librarian, Peter North, and the Gainsboro Branch Library to celebrate Black History Month with a lecture on Reconstruction in Virginia after the Civil War and and exploration into Virginia Untold, the Library of Virginia’s African American narrative. This event is a joint presentation between the Roanoke Public Libraries, Library of Virginia, and Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative.

Please join us for a journey through time as we explore these pivotal moments in our history with our esteemed speakers. Each lecture promises to provide fascinating insights and open up discussions about their relevance today.

We can’t wait to see you there