The best arts & culture spots in Hillsville

City Gallery Fine Art LLC is an artisan co-op featuring original and custom fine art, plus contemporary crafts by member and guest artists from southwestern Virginia and northwestern North Carolina.

Hale Wilkinson Carter Home is a historic home and gathering place in Hillsville, bringing people together for learning, events, and celebrations. Check out its tours and community events for a little local history, a bit of culture, and a good excuse to get out of the house.

From the Galax newsletter, November 4, 2026

Matthews Living History Farm Museum makes local history feel comfortably familiar, with heritage animals to meet and a calendar of old-fashioned gatherings that bring neighbors together. It’s the kind of place where you learn something, run into folks you know, and leave feeling more Galax than before.

From the Galax newsletter, October 22, 2026

Old Cranks Museum is a low-key time machine for Galax locals, with 70-plus vintage rides, early oddballs like a 1906 Orient, a Detroit Electric and a Stanley Steamer, plus cases of license plates and gas pumps. Wander, reminisce, then reward yourself with a scoop from the on-site ice cream shop.

From the Galax newsletter, October 25, 2026

Eng and Chang Bunker’s journey from Siam to world stages to farming life in our backyard comes to life at Chang and Eng Siamese Twins Exhibit, with artifacts and interactive displays from the Surry Arts Council. It’s thoughtful, surprising, and genuinely Mount Airy... the kind of story worth revisiting.

From the Mount Airy newsletter, October 20, 2026

If you think you know Galax, Jeff Matthews Museum will happily prove you only knew the trailer. Historic cabins from 1834, 10,000+ Native American artifacts, a massive Kodiak bear, a real covered wagon and thousands of photos make it a surprisingly bingeable afternoon for locals.

From the Galax newsletter, November 8, 2026

Wilderness Road Regional Museum brings local history to life with volunteer-led tours, living history, and the Into the Wilderness exhibit sharing stories of the Wilderness Road, a branch of the Great Wagon Road.

From the Dublin newsletter, October 17, 2026

Whether you need a one-of-a-kind gift or just an excuse to wander somewhere cozy, Artisan Alley gathers over 30 local and regional artists inside The Shoppes at Davis Arcade.

From the Mount Airy newsletter, November 4, 2026

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History is where back-country stories get real, from the furniture industry and Kapps Mill to the Mount Airy Train Depot. Rotating exhibits, occasional ghost tours, and kid-friendly programs like Tar Heel Junior Historians make it an easy local go-to when curiosity strikes.

From the Hillsville newsletter, October 17, 2026

Cranberry Acre is a gallery and studio for one-of-a-kind creations, from woodburned utensils, bookmarks, and jewelry to sculpture, paintings, and prints. If you love finding art with a personal touch, it’s a lovely spot to browse, and maybe discover the piece you didn’t know your home was missing.

From the Galax newsletter, November 7, 2026

Andy Griffith Museum packs the single largest trove of Andy memorabilia, from The Andy Griffith Show props and wardrobe to Matlock pieces, with an easy audio tour that keeps it moving. Swing through the gift shop to snag a Mayberry memento and feel a little extra hometown pride.

From the Hillsville newsletter, October 30, 2026

Glencoe Mansion: Museum & Gallery gives you a three-in-one visit, with a house museum about the Wharton family’s role in Southwest Virginia’s post‑Civil War development, rotating history exhibits on Radford and the surrounding region, and an art gallery showcasing local talent… plus a gift shop full of locally made…

From the Hillsville newsletter, October 7, 2026

For a quick refresher on where we live, Carroll County Historical Society and Museum sits inside the 1873 courthouse with early Native American finds, a sizeable Civil War collection including a local unit’s drum, and deep archives for family research, plus guided tours of the infamous 1912 courtroom.

From the Hillsville newsletter, November 2, 2026

The Radford University Art Museum keeps things fresh with year-round exhibitions by students, faculty and regional artists, plus about 2,500 works in its permanent collection you can browse in person or online. It’s free and open to the public, so pop in whenever you need a brain stretch.

From the Dublin newsletter, October 24, 2026

Radford University Art Museum on Tyler curates original works that invite the campus and town to slow down and look, with exhibitions featuring students, faculty, and guest artists. It’s the kind of local gallery where you’ll bump into a neighbor, learn something new, and leave a little more inspired.

From the Hillsville newsletter, November 8, 2026

Old Salem Museums & Gardens Administrative Offices may have a very official name, but the draw is the living 18th-century town at Old Salem, with costumed interpreters, heirloom gardens, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and seasonal Night Watchman and Christmas tours worth the short trek when your weekend…

From the Forsyth County newsletter, November 10, 2026

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts brings together emerging artists in dance, drama, filmmaking, music, and design and production. Its students also perform for the public, making UNCSA a local spot to catch ambitious work in the making.

From the Forsyth County newsletter, November 7, 2026

North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures, Lam Museum of Anthropology turns everyday objects and ceremonial artifacts into the kind of stories that stick. Free admission, current exhibits like Life after Death, and hands-on family activities make it a smart Albemarle day trip.

From the Galax newsletter, October 27, 2026