Rocktown History, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society — Attraction in Dayton

Rocktown History is a gem of the Shenandoah Valley. It is staffed with volunteers augmenting paid professional curators, researchers and management. Rocktown History also serves as the Dayton Welcome Center, giving out tourist information.

Rocktown History is the home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, founded in 1898 by John E. Roller, and has an expansive museum curated by the authoritative Dr Scott Hamilton Suter; it features a large research library free to the public with staff experienced in genealogy and historical research. Free events, historical lectures, and musical concerts are held in the lecture hall on a regular basis. A book and gift store sells a curated collection of local art, historical texts and antique books.

The Historical Society is a hub of various community groups including memorial associations, academic discussions, and Dayton interests. Visit for a quick tour of the museum, where you can see the history of local baseball, the battle flag of the 10th Virginia Infantry, the printing press of Kieffer-Ruebush company... buy a few books for a history nerd in the family, or stop in for a chat at the Tuesday morning "coffee mill" ... or make an afternoon in Dayton with visits to nearby Silver Lake Mill, the Virginia Quilt Museum, historic Fort Harrison, lunch at the Dayton Tavern or Thomas House restaurant, and perusal of the Triangle Emporium!

Pick up a free Dayton Walking Tour brochure and have a fun and fit morning of learning!

Looking for ways to get involved in historical preservation, genealogy or community building? Volunteer with director Penny Imeson or manager Andrea Early and find your niche in Rockingham County's official historical society!

Rocktown History is like no other place in Harrisonburg or...

We started our visit by paying for the museum tour. We had the place to ourselves and enjoyed viewing all the artifacts. I had just finished a book focusing on what led to the attack on Fort Sumter, so I was interested in this particular time in history. We also enjoyed viewing the artifacts from the Rockingham County Baseball League. We recognized many names. If you are from the area: Have you ever wondered what happened to the pencil from the old Service Stationer's building in downtown Harrisonburg? Were you aware of the original idea behind the turkey statue at either end of Route 11 entering Rockingham County? You will find the answer on the tour. The building also serves as a visitor center. You can browse that area at no charge. You will find lots of brochures for places in the area and history books. We were only there a couple hours and did not even have a chance to talk about the...

Oops! Mixed up my museums/visitor centers for my previous review of The Heritage Museum. 😱 But, 5 stars still apply. Friendly, helpful staff. Very interesting museum showing the history of the area. We enjoyed the section about Shenandoah Conservatory's beginnings in Dayton. My wife and I both graduated from Shenandoah in Winchester and always heard about Dayton, but had never visited before. Staff very helpful with recommending places for lunch and things to do while in Dayton. Dayton and The Heritage Museum were worth the side trip during our stay in the...