New Fincastle Museum in planning stages

Location proposed somewhere for the area in red.

A new museum in Fincastle likely would be located in the new lower parking lot along US 220, the Board of Supervisors learned at its April 25, 2023 meeting. The meeting was held at the Botetourt County Administration Center at Greenfield in Amsterdam.

Jon Lanford, Assistant County Administrator, provided the Supervisors with an update on the initial phase 1 of the $6 million project. Funding is being provided to Botetourt County through a grant administered by the Department of Historic Resources, with the county kicking in another $500,000.

AECOM is leading the design phase and overseeing the project, Lanford said.

The new museum building would bring new opportunities for educational tourism and economic development to the area. fincastle-museum-received-6-million-from-state (This is a previous story with more about the museum project with more info. Click link to read)

In information provided to the Supervisors, it states that the new building would give the County a place to display its historical significance. Additionally, the structure could be utilized for local events and staff hopes the museum would be a signature venue serving as a destination for the County, national historical museum acts, and provide regular programming.

During the feasibility study, which the Supervisors approved at the April meeting, a team would work with the County to determine the optimum location for the museum.

The museum building footprint and precise site location have not yet been determined.

                                                            — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee