Year In Review: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020
Exhibits
  • Two exhibits taken to the Roanoke Regional Airport: 1) Jim Fulghram’s 1941 Packard; and 2) the model GP9 locomotive donated to the museum by Chuck Wehrmeister
  • Volvo donated the Volvo tractor, Ride to Freedom, which participated in the Roanoke City Veterans’ Day Parade, followed by a dedication ceremony at the VMT.
  • The museum received a 1927 Model T Roadster as an unconditional gift.
  • The VMT was the first organization to have the bookmobile automobile/exhibit from the National AACA in Pennsylvania. This exhibit is worth around $215,000.
  • The Ya 2156 was returned to the National Transportation Museum in St. Louis, MO. We had a five-year lease with the National Museum that ended in 2020.
  • Will Harris moved the Glen Echo Trolley Car from the VMT’s rail yard to the National Capital Trolley Museum in Coleville, MD. This opens up room in the new plaza area of the rail yard for the flat car, which will serve as a stage.
J Class 611
  • 611 spent the winter at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. Due to COVID-19 and both museums being closed, 611’s stay was lengthened. Prior to returning to Roanoke, some maintenance work is needed. NCTM offers an indoor area for this work to be done. No date has been set for the return to Roanoke at this time.
  • 611 ran for four weekends at Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg, PA. The majority of events sold out.
Projects
  • Staff restroom was renovated.
  • Ellett Station was moved due to its collapse.
  • Work progresses on the new plaza in the rail yard to create a dynamic event venue for the museum. The work for this new space is being paid for in large part by the Auto Gallery.
  • Flowerbed watering system using rainwater was installed in the front beds by the Roanoke Garden Club. (June 2020)
Events (Since July 1, 2019)
  • Car-B-Que Summer Cruise In (July 26, 2019) – Music by Low Low Chariot
  • Car-B-Que Summer Cruise In (Aug. 9, 2019) – Music by Flashback
  • Racin’ and Roddin’ / Big Lick Train Tug (Sept. 21 2019) 
  • Candy Corn Express (Oct. 26, 2019) 
  • Military Appreciation Day (Nov. 9, 2019) 
  • Holiday Photo Sessions (Nov. 23, 2019)
  • Candy Cane Express (Dec. 7 and 8, 2019)
  • Train Lovers’ Day (Feb. 15, 2020) – Music by Haus of Schmitt
  • Star City Motor Madness held a modified event this year due to COVID-19 in the form of a “Tribute Drive”. In lieu of the scheduled After Party, the band, Haus of Schmitt, played a livestream concert from the Auto Gallery. (June 20, 2020) The concert was hosted on three Facebook pages. Approximately 15,000 viewers watched, and more than 200 people watched the entire concert. 
Staff
  • Bob Sigman joined the VMT on a contract basis. He chose not to move further at the end of the contract period.
  • Ellen Stick joined the museum as the new Director of Education.
COVID-19

  • The Museum closed to the public on March 17, 2020 and reopened on June 11, 2020. 
  • VMT was awarded the PPP loan which allowed full-time staff to remain.
  • While closed, the online store remained open.
  • A new page, VMT Go, was added to the website that included videos and activities to support at-home learning and to continue to engage our followers.  
  • A new VMT t-shirt was developed by King Screen Printing. The new shirt promoted our VMT Go web page and our support of the “Roanoke Strong” campaign. We sold 47 shirts, generating $470 in revenue.
  • Facebook Live Videos were posted each week featuring one of the museum’s exhibits.
VMT is open!
Celebration transportation with us!
VMT has reduced admissions in lieu of certain exhibit closures due to Phase 3 restrictions. Admission will be $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for age 3-18 and under 3 are free.

Adjusted hours will be Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-5pm.