Best Museums in Waynesboro
Besides the innumerable recreational opportunities Waynesboro has to offer, the city’s museums are one of the reasons why Waynesboro is recognized for its cultural history. Next time you find yourself in Waynesboro, visit the fantastic museums it has to offer.
Augusta County Railroad Museum
Located in Staunton Mall, this railroad museum displays model train layouts in 2’x4′ and 2’x6′ modules, which can be arranged as needed. Club members can bring their own to operate on the layouts, so you may see different train operations throughout the week.
Augusta Country Railroad Museum features railroad models of different sizes. In addition to the model train displays, the museum also features a massive selection of railroad artwork that depicts scenes and steam, electric locomotives, and diesel. Many of the trains in these art pieces no longer exist. However, the few remaining steam locomotives may be found operating on tourist railroads or restored and exhibited in museums like the Virginia Transportation Museum in Roanoke.
Waynesboro Heritage Foundation and Museum
This museum portrays Waynesboro’s history through permanent and temporary exhibitions and the Telos audio-visual room. Permanent pieces in the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation and Museum reiterate Waynesboro’s history from the Beverly Grant in 1979, early Teasville, and Waynesboro’s namesake Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, Railroad, Basic City, Education, Industry, Postcard gallery, Banks of Waynesboro, and many more.
The museum’s portrayal begins with a welcome to Waynesboro, followed by a Heritage gift shop, panels of bank building history and Waynesboro Coat of Arms, a Waynesboro quilt, quilted by Waynesboro’s ladies in 1997 for the bicentennial celebration, and rotating exhibits that enhance the permanent collection through additional loaned unique pieces.
The Russell Museum
Located in the University of Science and Philosophy headquarters, this museum has over 40 arts and sculptures from Walter Rusell, and it is one of the largest displays in Virginia. Some of The Rusell Museum’s featured sculptures are president FDR, the Four Freedoms Monument, and the Mark Twain Memorial.
The museum also displays all of the artwork displayed at Swannanoa Palace during Lao and Walter Rusell’s ownership. The Rusell Museum is open to the public and offers tours, classes, monthly speakers, and other events.
The P. Buckley Moss Museum
Patricia (Pat) Buckley Moss is an American artist born on May 20, 1933, in Richmond County of New York City. She was raised in Staten Island and was the second of 3 children in an Irish American Sicilian Marriage.
This museum is located in the iconic Waynesboro’s Downton and features a wide variety of artworks by the renowned Waynesboro artist.