The Mission of the O. Winston Link Museum's Education Department is:
To inspire life long learning for people of all ages using the photographs, recordings, and film of O. Winston Link and the Norfolk & Western Railway.
Tours
The O. Winston Link Museum offers guided tours to groups of all ages. Docents discuss the historic passenger station, the history of the N&W and Link's photography, audio and film recordings. The guided tour explores the background of the building; its architectural significance, as well as the social aspects of its use, including rail transportation and the segregated South of the 1950's.
The Museum exhibits over 300 of Link's primarily black and white, night time photographs, from his five year project, from1955 thru1960, to capture the vanishing of America's last railroad to run exclusively steam locomotives. The galleries are divided thematically, and encompass everything from Link's technical mastery, with examples of lighting equipment, interactive exhibits, and our new darkroom display, to life along the lines in a 1950's world.
Call (540)982-5465 today, to book your guided tour.
Internships
The O. Winston Link Museum offers several internships in conjunction with its parent organization, The Historical Society of Western Virginia. Click here for more information and guidelines about these internships.
Workshops
The following workshops are available both in-house and as outreach programs, in your classroom; workshops are designed to support the Virginia Standards of Learning.
One Time Programs
Norfolk & Western Railway: From Big Lick to Today
In 1891 the two Railroads which would later become the Norfolk & Western Railway merged and created a junction in the sleepy little town of Big Lick. That laid the foundation of building Locomotives, freight cars, and passenger cars in the Roanoke Valley. This workshop explorers both rail and Roanoke Valley history and is more than appropriate for grades 3-5.
O. Winston Link: The Man
This one-hour program focuses on Link images, his photographic technique, and the use of a large format camera. This program can be adapted for use for grades 5 to college level. Examples of Link's lighting equipment and camera, will be used to discuss the changes in photography in the later part of the 20th century.
Separate but Equal
In 1892 Homer Plessey sued the East Louisiana Railway for forcefully removing him from an all white seating area. Eventually his case ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in the Separate but Equal precedent and what became know as the Jim Crow laws. In- house, this program features a guided tour of the building and a slide-show of historic images of the Norfolk and Western Passenger Station during the height of the Jim Crow era.
On-going Programs
Programs are now available for digital and film photography. Ages range from Kindergarten through Life-Long Learners. Workshops can be tailored to fit your time constraints and specifications. Contact the Education Department at 540.982.5465 for more information on photography programming.
Opportunities for Educators
Educator Membership
The O. Winston Link Museum offers an individual membership exclusively for Educators at a reduced rate of $25.00. This fully tax deductible membership includes free admission to the O. Winston Link Museum, a 10% discount in the Museum Shops, access to and discount for historic site tours, and invitations to museum openings. Please call or click here for more details.
