The Saltville Valley can date its human occupation back 14,000 years. Prehistoric creatures visited the valley, attracted by the extensive salt deposits.
Two of Patrick Henry's sisters moved into the Saltville Valley in the 1780's and began the commercial production of salt. This production continued unabated for the next 200 years.
Click here to read more about the valley's salt history and its history as a company town.
The Saltville Foundation sponsors paleontological and archeological research in the Saltville area.
Museum Admission Fees
Adults: $3
Seniors: $2
Children 6-12 yrs: $2
Children under 6 yrs: free
Senior Groups: $1 per person
Student Groups: $1 per person
Welcome to the Museum of the Middle Appalachians
Visit our Geology, Ice Age, Woodland Indians, Civil War and Company Town exhibits.
The Museum has a collection of more than 4,000 photos, available at its Museum Store.
The Museum Store has books relating to the Ice Age, Civil War, Native Americans, the local geology and the history of Saltville.
Replica of cabin where Patrick Henry's sister lived and other historic buildings
Explore the scenic beauty of the valley, surrounding hills and mountains.
See two steam locomotives.
Two Historic Civil War Battle Sites
Saltville was extremely important to the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Union wanted to destroy Saltville because it was the primary source of salt for the South. At that time salt was the primary method of preserving food .
Two Civil War battles were fought in Saltville -- the first was fought on October 2, 1864 and resulted in the defeat a Union army of 5,200 men. The second battle on December 20, 1864, resulted in the capture of Saltville and it's saltworks by the Union army. Click here to learn more.
Saltville was extremely important to the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Union wanted to destroy Saltville because it was the primary source of salt for the South. At that time salt was the primary method of preserving food .